Environmental Protection Needs Awareness and Public Participation – Gokul Butel
1 min read
One-Day Workshop on Environment and Health Organized at HPU
Shimla, March 22, 2025 – Himachal Pradesh University’s (HPU) Law Department organized a national seminar on “Environment and Health in India: Issues and Challenges of Environmental Laws.” The event was chaired by Gokul Butel, Chief Advisor (Innovation, Digital Technology, and Governance) to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
In his address, Butel emphasized the importance of public participation and awareness in environmental protection, stating that preserving the changing environment is a collective responsibility. He reiterated the state government’s commitment to making Himachal Pradesh the first “Green State” by increasing the use of electric vehicles across departments and expanding the Himachal Road Transport Corporation’s electric bus fleet.
Highlighting the environmental challenges faced by the state, Butel pointed out that hydropower projects have led to increased landslides, and single-use plastic is a growing concern in tourist areas. He urged everyone to contribute ideas and take proactive steps to protect the environment for future generations.
HPU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Rajendra Verma linked environmental degradation to health hazards and discussed the Water Act of 1974. Prof. Dr. Shruti Bedi, Director of UILS, Punjab University, Chandigarh, spoke extensively on environmental protection and public health. Dr. Ashish Gupta, MD, Community Medicine, IGMC, highlighted the role of environmental sustainability in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The workshop was coordinated by Prof. Sunil Deshta and convened by Abhishek Singh Negi, with faculty members and students from the Law Department in attendance.
