With about 100 kilometres out of the 125-kilometre long planned Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line passing through tunnels, the possible impacts of such work in the fragile Himalayan ecology also need to be studied. Uttarakhand Governor Krishan Kant Paul said this while speaking at the inaugural session of the 86th annual session of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) and symposium on the subject of science, technology and entrepreneurship for human welfare in the Himalayan region at the Forest Research Institute convocation hall here on Friday.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the governor referred to the environmental wealth of Uttarakhand especially the medicinal herbs while exhorting scientists to develop practical techniques for optimum utilisation of its natural resources. Citing the example of Artemisinin-based combination therapies used against malaria, the governor said that the Artemisia plant from which it is isolated, grows in abundance in places like Joshimath region in Uttarakhand. Referring to heavy equipment, other aspects and alternatives, he also said that more work is needed to make solar power generation simpler. He said, “The 125 kilometre long Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line includes about 100 kilometre length through tunnels. One can imagine its impact on the fragile Himalayan region. Considering this there is a need to study the possible impact and related aspects,” said the Governor, while also stressing on the need for ensuring that development in the state is facilitated on a scientific basis. Emphasising on the need for encouraging the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in Uttarakhand, Paul said that units like the Centre for Aromatic Plants (CAP) in Dehradun should be developed across the State.
Earlier, delivering the inaugural address, the emeritus professor of the deparment of biochemistry, Indian Institute of Sciences Bangalore, Dr G Padmanaban elicited focus on the rich biodiversity of the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand. He said that based on the information he had gleaned from forest department reports, the medicinal plant wealth in the Himalayan region is not seen in any other place. Citing examples of the unique medicinal plant wealth of the Himalayan region, he cited examples like the Yarsagumba (Cordyceps Sinesis) among others, while also opining that a medicinal chemical library can be made of the plants with medicinal qualities found in the Himalayan region.
The director general of Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST), Rajendra Dobhal welcomed the gathering at the inaugural session of the three-day programme being continued at the council’s Vigyan Dham campus at Jhajhra on the outskirts of Dehradun. He expressed hope that the output of technical sessions and other activities to be held on varied aspects during the three-day progamme organised jointly by the council with Uttarakhand Technical University prove beneficial to the state of Uttarakhand. The UTU vice chancellor VK Garg, scientist and event convener Manju Sharma along with NASI president Akhilesh Kumar Tyagi were also among those who expressed their views at the inaugural session.