While the Government of India is considering plantation of medicinal herbs on the banks of the Ganga for use in preparation of herbal medicines, environmentalists in Uttarakhand opined that the major environmental issues affecting the existence of the Ganga and other rivers need to be addressed first.
It should be noted that the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation is considering a plan for plantation of medicinal herbs on the banks of Ganga starting with Uttarakhand. These herbs would be used in production of herbal medicines, it is planned. However, environmentalists in Uttarakhand stressed that more serious environmental issues affecting the Ganga needed to be addressed first.
The head of Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) Dr Anil Prakash Joshi states, “Considering the ground reality, this plan seems impractical at present. The rights of the people and the shape given to this plan will have to be considered. However, at present we are not succeeding in protecting even the sand that is being illegally quarried out of the Ganga and the forests which are being destroyed,” he said, while adding that the more serious environmental issues affecting the Ganga and other rivers in Uttarakhand need to be addressed effectively first.
According to Suresh Bhai of Nadi Bachao Abhiyan, “The banks of the Ganga have been destroyed with companies implementing hydro power projects and builders possessing more lands while marginal and small farmers have lost their lands along the Ganga. The prime forests of Deodar, oak and other trees that have been destroyed in the catchment area of the Ganga need to be restored while the small and marginal farmers need to be given their lands back. Without ensuring public participation, plantation of herbs on the banks of the Ganga would end up profiting only the companies,” he said.