Uttarakhand on Friday became the first state in the country to start tabulating a gross environment product (GEP) a measure of the health of the states natural resources which would be released alongside GDP figures every year.Formulation of the new green measure which would give out yearly updates on the status of the states glaciers, forests, rivers, air quality, soil and so on.
These figures could become an important tool for conservation strategies besides giving indications of the toll economic activity was taking on the states environment.
The announcement comes in the wake of the unprecedented devastation caused by last months flash floods in Kedarnath and elsewhere after which the state has received criticism for placing development over environment.
The new green measure proposed by environmental activist Anil Joshi, whose organization, HESCO, has been demanding it. GEP will act as a balance between ecology and economy. It will truly represent the rural resource growth rate, which was otherwise neglected in GDP figures