IMPHAL, Feb 27 � Researchers, experts and policy makers from Northeastern States and abroad have agreed to float a forum to exchange and share ideas/findings to tackle issues relating to climate change impacts in the North East besides closely working with the Ministry of DoNER, GIZ and concerned authorities.
The agreement was reached at the end of the two day �Conference on climate change adaptation: Priorities for research, policy and practices in North East India�, here on Wednesday.
Guwahati-based NGO Aaranyak in collaboration with Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), National Institute of Administrative Research and Germany-based GIZ organised the conference.
Meanwhile, Assam is all set to bring out a water policy in order to have judicious utilisation of the available water resources. �Assam will bring out its water policy within a short time as the process is in the pipeline. It will help in monitoring the water resources,� said AK Mitra, former Secretary of Assam Water Resources department.
On day one of the conference, Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF)�s Joint Secretary Ravi S Prasad informed the gathering that they have taken up �real action� to monitor the State action plans on climate change in the country. Prasad said, �So far, 28 States have submitted their drafts on state action plan on climate change. Of these, 11 were endorsed by the MoEF.� Informing that States have been asked to set up climate change cells and get the feedback on what�s happening in their respective areas, he said steps are on to set up a national institute on climate change studies as well.
He added around 80-85 observatory centres will be set up across the country besides roping in institutions such as North Eastern Hill University for research activities.
