IIT Roorkee, HESCO Organises Panel Discussion On GEP

The Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, in collaboration with the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), organised a panel discussion on the Gross Environmental Product (GEP). The main objective was to raise awareness about ecological issues and emphasise the need for a comprehensive strategy to shift from GDP-based economic growth parameters to GEP measures for defining development. Many participants believed that economic stability cannot be achieved as long as we continue to ignore ecological sustainability.

The programme began at 10:00 AM with a welcome address by Professor Ashish Pandey of the Department of Water Resources Development and Management at IIT Roorkee, followed by a brief introduction of Padma Bhushan Dr Anil P Joshi, an environmentalist and founder of the Dehradun-based voluntary organisation Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO).

In the inaugural session, Satya Prakash Dobhal, Director, ITM Mussoorie; Dr M Madhu, Director, Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation; Prof Durgesh Pant, Director General, UCOST Dehradun; Raj Shekhar Joshi, Vice President, SETU, Government of Uttarakhand; Prof Shishir Sinha, Director General, CIPET and Prof Akshay Dwivedi, Dean - Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy, IIT Roorkee, also shared their views.

After the inaugural session, a panel discussion was organised where various speakers discussed their respective topics. The programme was conducted by Alok Shukla and the vote of thanks was delivered by Professor Vinay Sharma, Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee.

The event focussed on the urgent need to formulate an action plan to protect our rapidly diminishing natural assets.