'Balance needed between economic growth, ecological concerns'

Economic and human development should be seamlessly integrated with ecological concerns for ensuring sustainable growth, Minister of Science and Technology Jaipal Reddy said today.
"We cannot deny the fact that the country is facing grim challenges in the sectors of food and nutrition, sanitation and water, energy, healthcare and environment," Reddy said in an emailed address to the 8th Sustainability Solutions Summit here.
"The only way to find a solution (to the above) is through science and technology as it plays a major role in driving transformation towards sustainable development," he added.
He also noted that the private sector could play a key role in striking a balance between economic growth and the environment by bringing better technologies to the markets.

Calling for a larger framework in order to address sustainable development issues, he said, "The world and India needs an operational sustainable development framework that can mobilise all key stakeholders from national and local governments, civil society, business and academia.