Eco-protection, development not contradictory: Pinarayi
The Hindu
Pinarayi inaugurates valedictory of Vanamahotsavan 2022
The government gives priority to both environmental protection and well-being of people, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. One cannot be sacrificed for the other.
“Development and ecological conservation cannot be viewed as contradictory. The government has focused on furthering both goals to achieve its aim of sustainable development,” he said, while inaugurating the valedictory of the week-long Vanamahotsavam 2022 organised by the Forest Department at the Assembly complex on Thursday.
Mr. Vijayan said Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) would have to be fixed after considering various factors, including population density, means of livelihood, and topographical features of the State. The government hoped to impress upon the Centre the need to exclude human habitations from the proposed zones and to approve the recommendations of expert committees constituted by the State.
Speaker M.B. Rajesh presided. Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran delivered the keynote address. Revenue Minister K. Rajan, Ports Minister Ahamed Devarkovil, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad, and Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman were also present.
Around 440 MBBS graduates of 2021 are not required to undergo one year of compulsory rural service as per the bond signed by them while joining the medical course through government-quota seats in 2015 as the High Court of Karnataka has said the law, enacted in 2012 for mandatory rural service, remained unenforced for 10 years as it was published in the official gazette only in July 2022.