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Time
has now come to create a conducive atmosphere for
promoting biodiversity in the state. We have realised its
utility in Madhya Pradesh and have started work in its
direction by chalking out a well thought of strategy.
This
government has constituted a council to manage
bio-technology works in a coordinated way. The council
started working in January 2007. Rs 66 lakh 22 thousand
financial assistance has been given for five projects for
developing infrastructure and carrying out research work.
We
have formulated a futuristic strategy and taken a pledge
to do sold work. Under this strategy, areas rich in
biodiversity would be identified and notified as
Biodiversity Development Places. Appropriate arrangements
would also be made at these. In the like manner, nurseries
of rare, endangered and near-extinction species of plants
would be developed at all the six eco areas. The sapling
grown here would be provided to various government
departments, institutions, non-government offices and
general public for plantation.
Under
this policy of the state government, the Biodiversity
Committees constituted at District Panchayat, Janpad
Panchayat, Municipal Corporation, Municipality, Nagar
Panchayat and village Panchayat levels would be
re-activated. With a view to making people aware of
biodiversity and its importance, workshops, conferences
and seminars would be organised.
The
newly-constituted Biodiversity Council has been entrusted
the task of imparting practical training at modern labs to
the students who are studying the subject of biodiversity
at colleges as well as their teachers. The council would
also organise training programmes. Similarly, the council
would initiate the process of setting up of Biotechnology
Park and Incubation Centres. We are also pondering over
setting up a Bio Science and Technology Institute to
promote international-level education and research in
biotechnology. A proposal to this effect has been
prepared. During the last four years we took up several
important tasks through Biodiversity Council. It may be
mentioned here that with a view of promoting use of
biotechnology and give a right direction, the present
state government had constituted State Biodiversity Board
in April, 2005.
As
many as 14 projects were launched in the state to collect
information about various aspects of biodiversity and
gather data through various research institutes of the
country.
Similarly,
at village level Lok Jeev Viividhta Panji' (Public
register of biodiversity) is being prepared for
documentation of local bio resources' availability and
their utilisation. Mowgli Bal Utsav is being organised for
the last three years for creating awareness among children
about love for nature and environmental preservation. A
newsletter 'Mowli ki Pati' (Mowli's letter) is also being
published for increasing sensitiveness in students about
biodiversity and forests.
For
the documentation of agricultural biodiversity 'Jaiv
Vividhta Yatra' (Biodiversity Journey ) was taken out
during which meeting were held in the villages of six
districts and farmers were trained in conservation of
biodiversity and bio-farming. Posters were distributed
among the mass awareness and hoardings were put up at
divisional headquarters' buildings. From December 2006,
tri-monthly magazine 'Jaiv Vividhta' is also being
published. In Bhind district we have started a project
based on the endangered 'googal' species of plants. This
project also envisages control on ravines and increase in
people's livelihood. Under this project 'googal' has been
planted in 65 hectares of land in the ravines. Similarly,
16 endangered species of Dhaan are being preserved.
With
mass awareness in view, a competition for best
biodiversity park is being organised at all the divisional
levels since the year 2006-07. At all the district and
division headquarters we have constituted 'Biodiversity
Support Groups' and have also started Board's web site
www.mpsbb.org to apprise the people about the board's
activities. Besides, Biodiversity Management Committees
were constituted at District, Janpad, City and Village
Panchayats which were also given grants.
We
admit that there is need for creating all round and
congenial atmosphere for giving a fillip to biodiversity
and we can achieve our target through public
participation. The present state government is always
alive and active in this direction.
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