State makes green health an indicator of its growth

“The state will have a nodal authority which will take necessary assistance and guidance from institute such as Forest Research Institute,Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute and others,” the release mentioned.

Uttarakhand would be the first state to assess its GEP,a significant step towards ecological and environment preservation,the statement said.

It was prominent environmentalist Anil Joshi who had suggested to Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to introduce GEP. “This will help the state assess its growth in forest area,water conservation and air quality every year,besides many other things,” Joshi told The Indian Express.

It would also help the state calculate its ecological growth and strengthen its claim for Green Bonus. “The government had already demanded green bonus after the Centre declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone in Uttarkashi. If the state gets a correct figure of its green growth with the help of GEP,it would help strengthen its case for green bonus,” a source in the government said.