It gives me immense pleasure to learn that the Department of Environment & Scientific Technologies is hosting it web-site on the World Environment day i.e. 5^th June 2008. I have been given to understand that the web-site of the Department would display vital information on the environment related aspects of the State. As a Minister in-charge of the Department it shall be my endeavour to equip the Department in such a way that it successfully carries forward the protection, prevention and conservation agenda in a most sustainable manner. Himachal Pradesh, which has its own peculiar environmental problems, needs to tread the developmental path without compromising with its pristine environment. Climate change and biological diversity loss are the two major planetary environmental threats facing mankind today and they are closely interlinked. Himachal Pradesh is a sensitive and highly bio-diverse ecosystem. To conserve our Himalayan heritage, we must jointly strengthen our endeavours to tackle the climate change and to curb the loss of biological diversity through adoption of sustainable environmental management practices. Besides environment, on the front of Science and Technology, our endeavour would be to promote scientific innovations in the State and inculcate scientific temper amongst all sections of the society. We would also endeavour to promote bio-technology as thrust area in the State as it would create a pool of skilled human resource, which would enable us to achieve new socio-economic frontier. Under the able leadership of Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Hon'ble Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh, we intend to dovetail the process of environmental conservation in the development needs of the State.

I congratulate and wish all success to the Department of Environment, Science and Technology.