Shillong June 20: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma stressed on the need to promote green business models and encouraged entrepreneurial activities that will have minimal impact on the environment while creating opportunities for employment and economic growth.

Addressing the inaugural function of a two-day national seminar on “Environment Consciousness and Sustainability: To Know Globally and Act Locally” organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) of Lady Keane College, here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister also emphasized on the importance of individual contribution towards protection and preservation of the environment.

The seminar was being organised in association with the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority.

“By making lifestyle changes at an individual level, and use of environment friendly products, we can create a demand for green products which will in turn encourage environmentally conscious businesses to grow,” he said.

The Chief Minister was impressed with the environment initiatives taken up by Lady Keane College and the students to sensitise the community on different environmental concerns.

He urged the college authorities to extend these initiatives by partnering with other institutions including the government to create a common platform working towards the noble cause of protecting the environment collectively.

Referring to the key note address delivered by the Chief Conservator of Forests, C.P. Marak, the Chief Minister emphasised on community participation to preserve Meghalaya’s green cover which is one of the highest in the country.

“Community forests are a very critical part of our State’s ecology and it is an example of what we can achieve when all of us get together and participate to work consciously as a group to protect the environment”, the Chief Minister stressed.

Conrad also exhorted the gathering to imbibe in their life the concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle and informed the gathering about the initiative of the government to use eco friendly recycled products and renewable resources to meet the energy demands of offices in the state.

The Chief Minister also urged the citizens of Meghalaya to join in his campaign ‘walkwithme’ to reduce their carbon footprint.