Inter-governmental meeting agrees on strengthening policy

New Delhi (PTI) - An Indian inter-governmental
meeting on environment Thursday agreed on strengthening the
regional policy framework to carry forward control and
prevention measures of trans-boundary movements of air
pollution.
It was felt by the members who attended the one-day
meeting under Malé Declaration on Prevention and Control of
Likely Trans-boundary Movements of Air Pollution that the time
is ripe to consider enhancing the regional cooperation.
The meeting also agreed that a sustainable financing
mechanism will be established to continue this process with
the ownership of the member countries, said a statement issue
by the Indian Environment Ministry.
Representatives of all eight member countries
including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka alongwith experts-stake holders in
various fields of monitoring, emission inventory, impact
assessment (crop, health, materials) besides experts on
transboundary movements of air pollution attended the
meeting.
Recognising the need to further implement the Malé
Declaration, member countries will provide voluntary financial
support for it and support the national and regional centers
as proposed by the Intergovernmental Meeting of the Malé
Declaration.
"There is also a need to establish Centers at regional
and national levels to sustain the capability building in the
region and national level," the statement said.
The resolutions will be discussed in the coming
Ministerial Meeting in December this year.
Members felt that the Malé Declaration has been
providing the framework for the governments and stakeholders
for cooperation at the regional as well as national level, the
statement said.
The need for the Malé Declaration has been proven and
agreed by all the stakeholders in South Asia.
The Malé Declaration adopted in 1998 in Malé stated
the need for countries to carry forward, or initiate, studies
and programmes on air pollution in each country of South Asia.