The effects of aggressive development policies that are 'attacking' the natural resources of the Himalayas are there for all to see. Even though the western, central and eastern Himalayas are divided among various States with their own popularly elected governments, these Governments have proved to be incapable of protecting the rights and interests of their electorate, their people. State Governments that are dependent on grants from the centre for their own survival are not giving due importance to the seriousness of the situation in the Himalayas on one hand and on the other are gradually forgetting the life and livelihood patterns that have sustained life in the Himalayas for centuries. The situation has become so bad that the traditions among the hill people of protecting and preserving their forests and natural resources are being ignored and in its place profit making plans and projects are being promoted that are based on blind exploitation of natural resources without a thought towards the pollution and environmental damage that is caused them.
The Himalayas which account for 16.3 per cent of the total area in India are considered to be a never ending water supply tank for the entire northern plains. Out of the total land area in the Himalayas, 45.2 per cent is covered with thick forests. The people living in hills and river valleys of the Himalayas have a grand reservoir of traditional knowledge systems that preserve their self sustaining culture and civilization. In this context many wandering travellers, environment lovers and writers have produced literature, research papers that have elicited the attention of the nation and world towards the Himalayas. Popular environmental and social campaigns, social organisations working in the Himalayas too have tried to draw the attention of the central and State Governments towards uniqueness of this region.
The 11 Himalayan States send a total of 40 members to the lok Sabha whereas the states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat send 39, 29, 25 and 26 members respectively. Even though the number of Members of Parliament from the Himalayan states is more, their influence in the social and political decision making process in the country is negligible as compared to the above mentioned States.
The Himalayan States are both strategically and environmentally sensitive and their welfare and development should be considered in the context of their importance not only to the country but the whole world.
Planners and policy makers in New Delhi and the state capitals of the Himalayan States should take special care when it comes to the Himalayas because it is the abode of glaciers, source of rivers and home to forests hosting a rich bio-diversity of flora and fauna. Everybody admits that if the Himalayas cease to exist as they are then this country will cease to exist too. "Save the Himalayas to Save the Country!" is not a slogan merely to be parroted but the most important basis by which we can rescue ourselves from the skewed development policies currently being followed. Slogans expressing similar sentiments have emerged from the Chipko movement like: Mitti, Pani aur Byar, Jinda Rehene ke Adhar (earth, water and air, are the basics for survival). Such slogans and guidelines are the gift of the Himalayan people to the world and they teach us lessons for a sustainable life. Dhar aincha pani, dhal par dala, bijli banava khala-khala (Water at the ridge, trees on the slopes, electricity being produced in each stream, rivulet and gully).
If this is kept in mind it will not only ensure the economic development of the region but will also assist in environmental preservation because if there is water at the ridges and trees on the slopes then humidity in the atmosphere and moisture in the soil will be maintained which in turn will ensure that the streams and rivulets that feed the rivers in the valley will not dry up and they in turn can be used to run micro turbines to produce electricity for local consumption and irrigation.
Modern technology has ignored this indigenous wisdom of the hill people and has opted for tunnel based hydroelectric projects that produce surplus electricity but at the same time cause damage to the environment and to the lives and livelihoods of the hill populace.
People living in the hills, social movements, people challenging the skewed policies of development of the central and State Governments have applied pressure and tried many a time to draw the attention of the policy makers to the anomalies.
All this leads up to conclusion that a separate Himalaya Policy is needed to safeguard the interests -- lives and livelihood, culture, society and environment of the Himalayas and its people. The people of the Himalayan States after a series of meetings and discussions and using indigenous knowledge systems have come up with a People’s Policy for the Himalayas which has tried to ensure that the Himalayas continue to be a source of inspiration to India and the world at large.
Any policy for this unique region and ecosystem being planned by the Government should take into consideration this people’s policy.
(The writer is president of Uttarakhand Sarvodaya Mandal and convenor of Uttarakhand Save River Campaign)