quot;Generate data on natural resourcesquot;

VADODARA, Nov 24: There is a need to generate proper data on natural resources and incorporate it in the political agenda. Gujarat Ecolog...

VADODARA, Nov 24: There is a need to generate proper data on natural resources and incorporate it in the political agenda. Gujarat Ecology Commission Chairman Hasmukh Shah said this at the international seminar being held at the Department of Economics here on Wednesday. Shah said that while our natural resources enable us to invite industries, the lack of proper data hampers the conservation of protected sites.

Citing the example of Gujarat8217;s Narayan sanctuary where limestone quarrying is taking a toll, Shah said that despite limestone of similar quality being available outside the sanctuary, the quarrying had to be allowed since there was no data on the limestone available outside.

Shah pointed out that in certain cases in the rural areas, there was data about land and other resources but they were not put together. 8220;If these data were put together and given to the people who were affected then they would fight their own cases and bring matters before the government,8221; said Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajit Singh of Cambridge University stressed that developing countries should keep aside everything and concentrate on the construction of more industries. Singh said, 8220;It is a question of survival for these countries, hence they have to keep this pace of growth in mind.8221;Singh added that industrialisation was the reason that the large cities of the country were growing larger, as there was no money for new cities. 8220;It is easier to expand the existing cities rather than building new cities,8221; said Singh.

Sudershan Iyengar of Ahmedabad said that apart from the problems related to environment, basic facilities like proper piped drinking water was missing in certain parts of the state. 8220;More than 72 per cent of our population does not get water through pipelines, so how can we expect other facilities?8221; questioned Iyengar.

The other panelists who spoke the occasion were P S Rao of Gujarat Refinery and P P Patel of the M S University8217;s department of Geology. On the concluding day of the seminar the panelists will discuss, Poverty in third world countries.8217;