SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said he plans to start the concept of net metering on a pilot basis and to convert a lot of his offices into solar energy powered infrastructures.
Sangma attended a two day national seminar on ‘Environment consciousness and sustainability: to know globally and act locally’ organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Lady Keane College in collaboration with the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) on Wednesday.
The chief minister stressed on the need to promote green business models and encouraged entrepreneurial activities that will have minimal impact on the environment while creating opportunities for employment and economic growth.
“By making lifestyle changes at an individual level and use of environmentally friendly products we can create a demand for ‘green’ products which will in turn encourage environmentally conscious businesses to grow,” he said.
Sangma called for the participation of all citizens while stressing on the need of environmental protection for a sustainable future.
Sangma was also impressed with the environmental initiatives taken up by the college and the students to sensitize the community on different environmental concerns.
He urged the college authorities to extend these initiatives by partnering with other institutions and even the government to create a common platform working towards the noble cause of protecting the environment.
Referring to the key note address delivered by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) C.P Marak, Sangma also emphasized on community participation to preserve Meghalaya’s green cover which is one of the highest in the country.
“Community forests are a very critical part of our state’s ecology and it is an example of what we can achieve when all of us get together and participate to work consciously as a group to protect the environment”, he said.
Sangma exhorted the gathering to practice the concept of the three R’s – Reduce Reuse and Recycle.
He told the gathering about the initiative of the government to use eco friendly recycled products and renewable resources to meet the energy demands of the offices.
The Chief Minister also urged the citizens of Meghalaya to join in his campaign ‘#walkwithme’ to reduce their carbon footprint.
