Speaking at the Himalaya Day meet in Dehradun on Monday, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said: “A separate Himalaya policy, a special Himalaya security force and other specific measures aimed at protecting the Himalayas and facilitating a balance between development and environmental protection, are the needs of the hour.”
Admitting that a lot needs to be done in Uttarakhand on the developmental and environmental fronts, Nishank also said that substantial development had been achieved since formation of Uttarakhand State in 2000.
“The 2.9 per cent Gross Development Product (GDP) in 2000 has increased to 11.3 per cent now while the 12,365 km long road network at the time has increased to more than 32,000 km now. However, a lot needs to be done in Uttarakhand to ensure the desired level of environmental protection and development. The first challenge is to protect the Himalayas though the people living in Uttarakhand should not pay the price for this. We had demanded green bonus for the State because we provide oxygen to the whole nation and beyond and for this developmental works are hampered,” he said.
Civic and social issues expert BP Maithani pointed out that contrary to popular belief regarding migration of people from the mountains being harmful, had there been negligible migration from the mountains, the rising population and resulting pressure on resources and infrastructure would have meant greater damage during the recent disaster. “Earlier villages were settled in safe locations but with unplanned construction, settlements have also been made in unsafe sites,” he said, while also stressing on the need for re-establishing agriculture.
Mahila Samakhya head Geeta Gairola stressed on the need for a separate policy for the Himalayas, while poet Atul Sharma, PCC vice president Suryakant Dhasmana, senior journalist RN Bahuguna, Kamala Pant of Pehel and Dr Nutan Gairola also addressed the gathering.
While Basanti Bisht sang jagars on the occasion, plays staged by Jan Samwad and Sambhav Manch theatre groups elicited focus on issues like unplanned and skewed development, environmental degradation, corruption in the government machinery, post-disaster scenarios and the hardships faced by the people.