CHANDIGARH- SEPTEMBER 15, 2008: The Indian Institute of Public Administration (Regional Branch for Punjab & Chandigarh) in collaboration with the Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh organized a Regional Conference on September 15, 2008 on the theme paper “Global Warming: Its Impact on India” by Sh. Vinod K. Sharma.
Prof. B. S. Ghuman, Dean, Faculty of Arts and General Secretary, IIPA, Regional Branch, while welcoming the delegates to the Conference said that there is a need for strengthening the role of government in the form of regulatory mechanisms to address the global warming issue. He stated that the Regulatory Authorities should religiously ensure that the polluting agents specially industries are not allowed to function without investing in green and clean technologies.
Prof. K.D. Sharma, Professor of Geography, presenting the theme opined that climatic elements do not recognize political/administrative boundaries or differentiate between various sections of humanity or segments of society. He stated that although climate change has been accepted, its politics is still contested with debate continuing between developed and developing nations. Prof. Sharma while talking about Global Warming’s impact on various regions in India said that in the Eastern Region, coastal Orissa is more vulnerable to global warming including heat waves now, which earlier only western Orissa used to experience. Sunderbans in West Bengal also report increasing salinity, higher tidal surges and submergence of land. In the Western Region, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat suffer more from the risk of sea level rise. The main impact on Northern Region has been on agriculture and availability of water. The yields of paddy, maize and cherry have decreased between 15 to 20 per cent, which raises the question of food security. In South India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh droughts and heat waves have increased and their severity and spread has also enhanced. He concluded by saying that rise in sea level, tropical cyclones, flooding and landslides, water shortage and heat and cold waves are some of the impacts of global warming in India.
Sh. D.V. Bhatia (IAS Retd.), Hony. Secretary, IIPA, Sh. G.S. Pandher (IPS, Retd.), Sh. Munish Kumar, Sh. Anrez Singh were amongst those who participated in the discussions.
Sh. B.S. Ojha, Chairman, regional chapter of the IIPA, in his Presidential remarks said that there is a need to sensitize and raise awareness amongst the the ordinary people of the country about the serious threat which global warming is posing before the nation.
Sh. Sudhir Sharma, Chairman, Department of Public Administration, Panjab University, Chandigarh proposed a Vote of Thanks.