Agatha urges for green business at MSCCSD meet
A Correspondent
Shillong, June 17: The first meeting of the re-constituted Meghalaya State Council for Climate Change and Sustainable Development (MSCCSD) with legislator Agatha K Sangma as Chairperson was held recently.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma along with officials from various other government departments also attended the meet.
P Sampath Kumar CEO MBDA and member secretary (MSCCSD), while making a presentation for setting the agenda on climate change in Meghalaya highlighted the likely impacts of climate change in the state, the state’s action plan with the various levels of preparation and approaches and the different studies already conducted.
The Chief Minister explained about the importance of adaptation measures particularly for the urban areas since they are the prime consumers of water and energy.
He also explained that the state will leverage on the Rs 1,290 crore allocated by the Central Government for the development of the bamboo sector in the North-east, adding that the country currently imports about 1 lakh crore bamboo for consumption, which presents tremendous opportunity for the state.
Conrad emphasised the need for adaptation using green building concept, water and energy conservation, city and urban planning and for officials of different departments to visit work sites together so that ideas could converge.
The unemployment issue and the migration of youths from rural to urban areas leading to demographic changes should be taken as priority and climate change adaptation efforts can help in job creation and address employment issues locally, he said.
The Chairperson Agatha Sangma stressed on the importance of having a start-up policy that is also linked to the long term sustainable development goals of the state to encourage young entrepreneurs to take up Green Businesses.
In light of the growing global and national concerns on the growing generation of plastic and non-biodegradable wastes, she stated that Meghalaya can become a manufacturing hub of green packaging and bio-degradable products by local entrepreneurs. This, she added, will also help address the unemployment challenges the state currently faces.
Both the Chairperson and the Chief Minister urged the Council to set goals for seeing the results.
While the ‘one tree one citizen’ campaign was highlighted, the Chairperson suggested that the Council should work closely with the traditional institutions to help the people understand and accept new norms for climate change adaption.