Shimla: Himachal Pradesh would soon set up State Centre for Climate Change to monitor the impact of the change in climatic conditions in different zones of the State. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, here today.

Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh had earned reputation on environment front at the international-level and the efforts made in this regard had been appreciated by the environmentalists from the world over. He said that setting up of Centre for Climate Change was the need of the hour and to implement the policies directed towards the protection of the environment and monitor changes taking place due to global warming etc. He said that the State Government had invited the universally renowned environmentalist Dr. R.K.Pachauri, Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute, to be the Guest of Honour to formally inaugurate the Centre during the month of February, 2012 and deliver his key-note address on the issues and challenges on climate change to the big-wigs of the State on the occasion. He said that the State Government would be inviting environment scientists, intellectuals besides the Members of State Legislative Assembly, Secretaries and Heads of the Departments to take benefit of the address by Dr. Pachauri.

Prof. Dhumal said that the State had made its mark on the environment front by taking all precautions to protect the same. He said that the endeavour of the state to ban use of polythene and plastic carry bags, had been appreciated overwhelmingly by not only the environmentalists but the common man as well. He said that the State Government had been taking along the people of the state in making all its such programmes a mass programme with active participation of the common man. He hoped that with the setting up of the Centre for Climate Change more focused activities would be possible to be carried to ensure that the State was made environmentally safe in all respects.