Water crisis will be Gujarat’s biggest test: Jairam Ramesh

The outspoken Union minister of state for environment and forest Jairam Ramesh got a taste of Amdavad's searing heat on Wednesday as he hopped from Space Applications Centre to Physical Research Laboratory and then to Centre for Environment Education (CEE). But at CEE, the apparently exhausted minister decided to enjoy the cool environs of an air-conditioned room and chatted heartily with mediapersons. Excerpts:

What are the biggest environmental challenges facing Gujarat?

Managing water is going to be one of the three biggest challenges for Gujarat. Water is going to be crisis for the entire country actually, not isolated for this state, but given the rapid pace of industrialisation in the state, the problem is certainly magnified here.

Effective use of traditional sources of water, recharging our existing sources, conserving wetlands among other issues are therefore very important.

The second is conserving the coasts. In a rush to save our forests, we have neglected the marine biodiversity. Gujarat has a rich coast, rich with marine ecology and has the country's first marine national park. Coasts are important from the Climate Change point of view as the marine life absorbs as much carbon as forests do. We are therefore not only protecting species but also improving carbon absorptions.

The third problem particular to Gujarat is that of industrial pollution, which is reaching very serious levels. Vapi and Ankleshwar are very good examples where your eyes burn if you go there at midnight. We had put an embargo on new developments on both these sites. While Vapi has been removed, Ankleshwar continues. Chemical contamination adversely affects public health, which is not acceptable.

How will you deal with the protests against proposed nuclear power plants?

I argue with those who have an ideological problem with nuclear power, because there is no option. I am with those who claim that the plant is going to cause environmental damage and we should take care of it. However, I do believe that there is a need for greater transparency in our country's nuclear programme.

The prime minister also agrees and in the coming session of Parliament, we are introducing an independent autonomous nuclear regulatory authority. There needs to be more interaction with the people, more reporting of radiation levels; more transparency and more accountability is needed.

When will the lions grab Centre's attention?
We are committed to lion conservation - a gene lab, garland road around the sanctuary and relocation for Maldharis is in the pipeline.

Any comments on Gujarat's Climate Change department…
None. Compiling the functions of all your ministries does not make a book on climate change (he says clapping his hands about Narendra Modi's book 'Convenient Action').

What is after all the status of the Himalayan glaciers?
Our scientists have conducted research. Rest assured, they will not disappear anytime soon.

Any interesting upcoming projects…
We (MoEF) is starting an 'Eco Sampark' programme with CEE, which is mainly an SMS-based project wherein anyone can contact the call centre anchored by CEE for any environment-related complaint.

The initial pilot project will be in three states which can go on floor in about two months. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are likely to be first off the block. It will be available in various other languages too.