Environment activists question award selection procedure

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Science, Technology and Climate Change Department (STCCD) of Government of Assam announced the names of 10 eminent personalities for 'Friends of Environment' award which was instituted reportedly at the behest of ASTEC. But few environmentalists of the State, including a senior recipient of the award, expressed reservation over the selection procedure.

A highly revered recipient of the award, on the condition of anonymity, said that there should be two categories of recipients. While one category is for those who are pioneers in environment and conservation and whose contributions set motivation and aspiration for others, the other category should be for upcoming environment activists. He also opined that there was no dearth of such persons in Assam. He, however, viewed that the selection committee would take all components of environmental conservation into consideration in the coming years.

Other activists were of the view that it was unacceptable to put senior eminent recipients at par with others in the same category. Some even raised questions about the criteria on which selection was done.

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