Dehradun, 26 Sep: The 12th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS-XII) started on Friday at Doon University. The summit was inaugurated by Uttarakhand’s Forest and Technical Education Minister Subodh Uniyal by lighting the ceremonial lamp.
Keynote speaker Prof Anil Kumar Gupta said that real sustainable development is possible only when modern science is combined with traditional knowledge. He raised concern about the growing problem of plastic waste due to tourism and suggested measures like using Artificial Intelligence for disaster management, promoting agroecology, and encouraging innovation-based entrepreneurship in Himalayan states.
Doon University Vice Chancellor Prof. Surekha Dangwal, IMI President Ramesh Negi, Secretary Roshan Rai, and Treasurer Binita Shah also addressed the event. About 250 participants including scientists, farmers, and social workers joined the inaugural session. Farmers from Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand also shared their experiences.
