Chair on ecology, environment at varsity in J&K

The Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in this remote area of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday earned the distinction of getting the first-ever chair on ecology and environment. This was announced by Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh. He said several mega projects for conservation of forests and environment in the State were in the pipeline and negotiations were on with Japan for one of them.Mr. Ramesh, who inaugurated the Masters Degree programme on Biodiversity and Biotechnology at the University, announced that the chair would be named after Mahatma Gandhi. “This will be a tribute to the Father of the Nation,” he said. Mr. Ramesh also announced a Rs. 5-crore grant for the Pir Panchal Biodiversity Park, which has come up at 470 acres of land, and exuded confidence that it would soon graduate into National Biodiversity Park. He said it was a unique project in any University and India. The Minister lauded the role of BGSBU Vice-Chancellor Masud Chowdhary in making the University a centre of excellence in a short period. He assured full support to the University in carrying forward its programme on forest, ecology and environment.Talking about the Centre’s initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Ramesh said the The Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) in this remote area of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday earned the distinction of getting the first-ever chair on ecology and environment. This was announced by Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jairam Ramesh. He said several mega projects for conservation of forests and environment in the State were in the pipeline and negotiations were on with Japan for one of them.Mr. Ramesh, who inaugurated the Masters Degree programme on Biodiversity and Biotechnology at the University, announced that the chair would be named after Mahatma Gandhi. “This will be a tribute to the Father of the Nation,” he said. Mr. Ramesh also announced a Rs. 5-crore grant for the Pir Panchal Biodiversity Park, which has come up at 470 acres of land, and exuded confidence that it would soon graduate into National Biodiversity Park. He said it was a unique project in any University and India. The Minister lauded the role of BGSBU Vice-Chancellor Masud Chowdhary in making the University a centre of excellence in a short period. He assured full support to the University in carrying forward its programme on forest, ecology and environment.Talking about the Centre’s initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Ramesh said the Centre was serious in the development of the State and it had been kept on the priority of the list of developments.
The Hindu, 6th August 2009