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Funds for water conservation to be hiked

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, June 5

THE Union Minister for Environment and Forests, Mr. T.R. Baalu, has said that funds for soil and water conservation measures in new afforestation projects would be hiked by at least 10 per cent.

In every State, projects would be identified on pilot basis for the increased funding, which would now be 25 per cent of the project cost, from the existing 15 per cent, he said at a function organised to mark the World Environment Day at the National Museum of Natural History.

The scheme would be particularly applicable in the desert and drought prone areas of the States. The drought conditions prevailing in several parts of the country, have not only focussed our attention on the necessity of sustainable use of water resources, but also for implementation of such schemes, he said.

Mr. Baalu said economic development based on industrial growth alone could not solve all the problems, as development without care for the well-being of the environment had posed grave threat to the very existence of life itself.

Prof. M.G.K. Menon, noted scientist, urged the Government to set up a national commission on sustainable development with the responsibility to coordinate activities of all agencies concerned with the protection of environment, such as the Ministries of agriculture, water resources, surface transport and health.

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