Dehradun: Addressing a press conference at the Media Centre in the Secretariat Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami briefed the media regarding the Gross Environmental Product Index (GEP Index) that it has been launched in the state. Chief Minister stated that the GEP Index notified will link the state’s ecology with the economy. He said that the Uttarakhand is a state rich in terms of environment and biodiversity and that is blessed with all type of ecosystems available in the world. He further said that Uttarakhand is blessed with all kind of geographical conditions, such as glaciers, dense forests, rivers, and Terai valleys.
Addressing the media, CM Dhami said that GEP Index has been assessed mainly on the basis of air quality, water quality, number of planted trees and plants and measurement of organic soil area. Development schemes have direct impact mainly on these four components. The GEP Index will act as an indicator to assess the impact of developmental schemes on the environment. If there is improvement, the index will show up, which will indicate that the environment in the state is stable. In case of negativity in the environmental quality, there will be a decline in the GEP index. The Chief Minister said that the efforts made by the state in regard of environment have been appreciated at the national level. Uttarakhand has secured first place in the Sustainable Development Goals Index developed by NITI Aayog in the year 2023-24. Uttarakhand is rich in forests, fresh water, glaciers which make the state a rich bank of ecosystem services. The GDP of Uttarakhand is Rs 3.33 lakh crore for the year 2023-24. He further said that despite the developmental schemes and the spread of industrial activities in the state, the state has succeeded in preserving its environment and ecosystem.
