Topmost priority should be accorded to the conservation of water in the Himalayan region, said the Uttarakhand governor Krishan Kant Paul. Addressing the inaugural session of the three day national conference on earth system science with special reference to Himalaya at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), he stressed on scientific study for revival of drying sources of water while also adding on the need for scientific measures like drip irrigation to prevent water wastage in agricultural activities.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor stressed on the need for protecting the integrity of the Ganga and other rivers originating in Uttarakhand in order to enable the Indo-Gangetic plains to prosper. He emphasised on the importance of glaciers while also eliciting focus on the need for research to ascertain the impact of forest fires on the melting of glaciers. Recalling the Nepal earthquake of 2015, he said that since then about 52 tremors had been experienced in Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag and Pithoragarh districts of Uttarakhand. Stating that as a layman he wonders what effect such tremors have on the internal structure of the Himalayas, Paul also called for scientific study to ascertain this.
Expressing his views, noted environmentalist and Magsaysay award recipient Rajendra Singh said that utilisation of science mainly for profit does not lead to sustainable development for which it has to be used for achieving good. Stating that scientists in India have been doing a commendable job, he stressed on the need to ascertain who is using the findings of scientific research and for what purpose. Using science mainly for profit has created a situation in India wherein 70 years after Independence, there has been a ten-fold increase in drought affected area an eight-fold increase in flood prone area.
The WIHG director Meera Tiwari, conference coordinators Rajesh Sharma and Pradeep Srivastava also spoke on the occasion.