Environment and development coexist: Yadav

NEW DELHI: Environment minister Bhupender Yadav said environment and development coexist in the country, and underlined the increase in forest cover despite various development projects being taken up in the past few years.
“Environment protection and development are not contradictory. We need the world’s best infrastructure and also preserve our wildlife. The country must have good roads/highways that can help in reducing carbon emissions and can, at the same time, conserve our biodiversity and bring basic facilities to people living in far-flung areas,” he said.
On air pollution and the blame-game behind it, Yadav said the Centre has been coordinating with states and it resulted in 40% decline in episodes of stubble burning last year compared to 2021.
On the recent deaths of three cheetahs and cubs each, Yadav said there was always the possibility of casualties in such translocation programmes but the entire team was working sincerely and ‘Project Cheetah’ would be a success.