Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the Himalayan states had prepared a common agenda and submitted it to the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the Conclave of the Himalayan States. Among other issues, they have raised the demand for green bonus and a separate ministry for the Himalayan region.
Addressing the media after conclusion of the conclave, Rawat said that the Himalayan states have demanded that they should be provided green bonus for the ecosystem services they provide. Since Himalayan states are also the main source of water, financial assistance should be provided in Central schemes to these states for protection and revival of rivers. The Centre should also provided assistance in developing new tourist destinations. He said, “Considering national security interests, development in border areas should be accorded priority in order to mitigate migration. The Union Finance minister also gave her assurance when this concern was raised by the Himalayan states. We also reached a unanimous agreement that this conclave should be held every year. A separate ministry should be formed for the Himalayan region. In this conclave, the NITI Aayog, 15th Finance Commission and Finance ministry assured that separate plan would be made in the budget for the Himalayan states,” said Rawat.
He opined that the conclave had been a success as for the first time the representatives of Himalayan states congregated and deliberated on vital issues including disaster, water resources and ecological services among others.
He said that except Assam, the representatives of 10 Himalayan States attended the event. The CMs of Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, deputy CM of Arunachal Pradesh and representatives of the other Himalayan states participated in the conclave.
The Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur, NITI Aayog vice chairman Rajiv Kumar, Arunachal Pradesh deputy CM Chowna Mein, advisor to Jammu and Kashmir governor, KK Sharma, Uttarakhand chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh and representatives of other states were also present in the Press conference.