Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, along with Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, retired IFS officer A.K. Rastogi, and APCCF Arun Kumar Pandey, inaugurated a state-level workshop on “Transformative Pathways for Climate-Resilient Chhattisgarh” by lighting the ceremonial lamp at Mayfair Lake Resort, Nava Raipur Atal Na |
Under the leadership of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, Chhattisgarh is poised to become the second state in India to implement an eco-restoration policy, following Kerala. The Forest Department has finalized a draft of the policy, which is expected to be rolled out soon.
The initiative aims to promote forest growth, conserve water resources, prevent soil erosion, and enhance biodiversity across the state. Once implemented, the policy is anticipated to significantly contribute to environmental sustainability and ecological balance in Chhattisgarh.
In his inaugural address, Forest Minister Kashyap spoke on the policy and stressed the importance of forest conservation and sustainable natural resource management, while Finance Minister Choudhary underscored the critical need to harmonize development with ecological preservation.
He was speaking at the a state-level workshop titled “Transformative Pathways for Climate-Resilient Chhattisgarh: Perspectives and the Way Forward” at Mayfair Lake Resort, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, hosted by Chhattisgarh State Center for Climate Change (CGSCCC), in collaboration with the Centre for Environment and Energy Development (CEED).
Other prominent speakers included A.K. Rastogi, Chairman of the Task Force for Sustainable Just Transition and Green Hydrogen Mission, Government of Jharkhand, and Arun Kumar Pandey, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Nodal Officer for CGSCCC, who shared insights on advancing climate resilience.
The workshop opened with a welcome address by CEED CEO Ramapati Kumar, setting the stage for in-depth discussions.
Session I was on present scenario of climate resilience in Chhattisgarh and regional dialogue, moderated by Abhismita Roy, Assistant Professor of Botany at Kalinga University. The session featured experts such as Dr. Manish Ram (CEED), Dharmdeo Rai (West Bengal Environment Department), P.C. Mishra (Director, Thakur Pyarelal Institute), Ravi Ranjan (APCCF, Jharkhand), Dr. Anil Srivastava (CGSCCC), and Gaurav Upadhyay (IEEFA).
The Session II was on transforming climate resilience strategies into action. Discussions were led by Dr. Manish Ram (CEED), Dr. Rahul B. Hiremath (IIM Raipur), Dr. Manoj Singh (Head of Zoology, Kalinga University), and others.The event brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including NGOs, academicians, researchers, and students from institutions such as IIM Raipur, Pandit Ravishankar Shukla University, and Kalinga University. Representatives from Chhattisgarh Council of Science and Technology (CGCOST) also attended.
Key topics included, climate vulnerability assessments, renewable energy solutions, industrial decarbonization strategies, sustainable agriculture, community-driven approaches to resilience, and climate financing opportunities.
The workshop emphasized collaborative efforts to address climate challenges and advance sustainable development goals in Chhattisgarh.