Union Science & Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan to hold additional charge of Environment Ministry, following the death of Anil Dave.
Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave passed away early morning on Thursday. He was 60 years old.
Union Science & Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan to hold additional charge of Environment Ministry, following the death of Anil Dave.
— Newsd (@GetNewsd) May 18, 2017
The minister had been keeping unwell since January this year and the cause of his death is still unknown. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and had not recovered fully since then.
Mr Dave was appointed the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Narendra Modi cabinet on July 06, 2016. He had been a Rajya Sabha MP representing Madhya Pradesh.
Anil Madhav Dave was very passionate about environment conservation and had founded the ‘Narmada Samagra’, projects to conserve river.
The nation is in a state of grief. PM Modi expressed his condolences in a tweet this morning.
Absolutely shocked by the sudden demise of my friend & a very respected colleague, Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave ji. My condolences.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 18, 2017
Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu also tweeted his condolences:
Shocked and extremely sad to know the sudden demise of my colleague Sri Anil Madhav Dave ,Environment Minister.My heartfelt condolences. pic.twitter.com/mwj982iNsN
— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) May 18, 2017
Dave was also a member of Standing Committee on Environment and Forest and Science & Technology, Standing Committee on Water Resources, Member (Board of Governors) of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan; Nominated Member of Indian Council for Cultural Relations. He was the Chairman of Select Committee on Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013 and Chairman, Select Committee on Coal Mines (Special Provision) Bill, 2015.
Anil Dave has also written several books on environment and climate change. Beyond Copenhagen; Yes I Can, So Can We; Creation to Cremation; rafting through a civilisation: a travelogue; Shatabdi ke Paanch Kaale Panne; Sambhal Ke Rehna Apne Ghar Me Chhupe Hue Gaddaron Se; Mahanayak Chandrashekhar Azad; Roti Aur Kamal ki Kahani; Samagra Gram Vikas, are some of his works.