Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state with dense temperate and alpine forest reserve and rich environmental heritage, has undergone tremendous infrastructural change over the years with influx of tourists and construction projects in the name of development. All these activities have had or will have negative consequences, disturbing the natural homeostatic balance of the environment beyond its re-entering capacity.
There should be convergence of developmental growth measures with preservation and restoration of environment. Future financing of developmental projects has to be sustainable and wise, where we can use the potential of tourism horticulture and hydroelectricity from the state but not disturb the balance of Himalays.
There has been rapid contractions in glacier surface area, and on the other hand, expansions in glacial lakes over the past few decades. Since these are tell-tale signs of a looming disaster in the coming years, a watchful eye, sustainable and planned infrastructure development is the need of the hour.
Since Himachal is a green-fuel (hydro power) surplus state, there is certainly no need for arresting large rivers as planned for the Chandra and the Bhaga in Lahaul-Spiti district. The recent Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand should serve as a warning for undertaking such ambitious but highly unsustainable developments. High-rise constructions in a highly earthquake prone area of Zone-V are an invitation to mass annihilation any day, a making of pre-planned bomb.
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, marks the celebration of rich diverse heritage of environment in providing various ecological services and livelihood of mankind. The National Environmental Policy of India is an attempt to treasure this rich heritage.
Himachal has to focus on imbibing all possible sustainable development practices towards green economy. The level of environmental awareness needs to be raised along with drafting of new legislations to support the environment. Eco village is an emerging concept in the hill state. It focuses on treating village life being in absolute sync with nature by developing low impact lifestyles that reduce the “ecological footprint” by as much as 50% of the base assessment from launch of the scheme.
The writer is a research scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is working on Glacial Lakes of Lahaul, with Sissu and Samudari Tapu lakes as targeted areas
Full report on www.toi.in
There should be convergence of developmental growth measures with preservation and restoration of environment. Future financing of developmental projects has to be sustainable and wise, where we can use the potential of tourism horticulture and hydroelectricity from the state but not disturb the balance of Himalays.
There has been rapid contractions in glacier surface area, and on the other hand, expansions in glacial lakes over the past few decades. Since these are tell-tale signs of a looming disaster in the coming years, a watchful eye, sustainable and planned infrastructure development is the need of the hour.
Since Himachal is a green-fuel (hydro power) surplus state, there is certainly no need for arresting large rivers as planned for the Chandra and the Bhaga in Lahaul-Spiti district. The recent Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand should serve as a warning for undertaking such ambitious but highly unsustainable developments. High-rise constructions in a highly earthquake prone area of Zone-V are an invitation to mass annihilation any day, a making of pre-planned bomb.
World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, marks the celebration of rich diverse heritage of environment in providing various ecological services and livelihood of mankind. The National Environmental Policy of India is an attempt to treasure this rich heritage.
Himachal has to focus on imbibing all possible sustainable development practices towards green economy. The level of environmental awareness needs to be raised along with drafting of new legislations to support the environment. Eco village is an emerging concept in the hill state. It focuses on treating village life being in absolute sync with nature by developing low impact lifestyles that reduce the “ecological footprint” by as much as 50% of the base assessment from launch of the scheme.
The writer is a research scholar, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is working on Glacial Lakes of Lahaul, with Sissu and Samudari Tapu lakes as targeted areas
Full report on www.toi.in
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