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Sunday, May 20th
Time to start pricing natural capital' (PARTICIPANTS AT the 6th World Congress on Environment Management recognized the importance of action in sustainable development- The main issue is not environment or development, but environment and development, experts stated in the Palampur Declaration 2004, which remerged after three days of deliberation. The delegates also expressed concern over global issues like climatic changes, sustainable development, corporate governance and their significance to environmental management in India and the Himalayan region, including Himachal Pradesh, which according to. the participants remains a classic case of ;poverty despite having biodiverse resources. It was also noted that sustainable development cannot take place without the proactive involvement of the masses and the creation of a buying for all stakeholders viz govt, .business and society. Though the 'government has taken steps towards development, it was felt 'that these activities had a detrimental impact on the environment, The experts stressed the need to find appropriate solutions to environmental up gradation. The conference lauded the efforts of the Himachal government in taking steps to ban plastic, which has had varied degrees of environmental impact due to its non-biodegradable nature.
It also emphasised that development and environment should be complimentary rather than competitive. The need to evolve a strategy under which polluters are made to pay up was strongly felt. Pointing that poverty and population explosion were the root cause of environmental degradation, the congress opined that environmental strategies and planning should be done while keeping these factors in mind.
Dr Madhav Mehra, president of the World Environment Foundation, said most environment-related problems are manmade. The two major reasons for its degradation are misgovernance, subsidy to industries causing environmental degradation, no penalty on pollution and no incentive for services and business that save environment, he told HT.
"Dr Madhav Mehra is a phenomenon, nothing describes him better."
Ola Ullsten, Former Prime Minister of Sweden at the 8th World Congress on Environment Management, Palampur, 2006"
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Dr Mehra, I just read your commentary on Satyam....You made one of the wisest observations on board failures I've ever read - "It is difficult to understand something when your salary depends on not understanding it".Brilliant!
Ralph Ward, Boardroom Insider
"Dr Madhav Mehra, has played a significant role to bring about a change in the mindset of the corporate world. India will remember him as a great pioneer who foresaw such a need and strove for inculcating a culture of quality in all spheres of activity."
S S H Rehman Executive Director, ITC Group of Hotels
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"I have known Dr Mehra for the last 8 years in my capacity as the Chairman of the Centre for Social Responsibility,..... Chairman of the S.M. Charitable Trust . I am amazed by the energy, enthusiasm and dedication that he brings to every idea he promotes."
P.N. Bhagwati, Former Chief Justice of India
"Rarely does one come across a legend like Madhav Mehra. I have witnessed his dedication everywhere: building community centres for gaddies of Dhauladhar, hospital and school for slum dwellers in Delhi and addressing corporates on the social role of their business."
Dr Sahib Singh, Ex-Chief Minister, speaking at SM Medical Centre, 13.04.04"
"Had Dr Madhav Mehra just been the founder of the IOD, that in itself would have been a piece of work tat the present and future generations would cherish. But by establising so many other organisations, he has really ensured that we respect him as a pioneering figure of all te good that Indian business is striving for."
Javed Husain, Professor and former Dean of Engineering
"Address of Dr Mehra was a unique experience. I aspire to listen to him again and wish Dr Mehra can find time to address youth in the colleges."
MK Yadav, Hindustan Zinc LTD
"Dr Mehra has given a unique dimension to CSR. His interpretation is particularly relevant to us and we must invite him once again to address our top executives"
Hon'ble Carlton Davis, head of Jamaica's Civil Service"
"Dr Mehra's passion comes alive from his speeches"
Uma Arora, Chairman Idam Learning
"Dr Madhav Mehra's keynote address was the most thought provoking"
N A Patil & R B Rajpune
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