Himalayan Chief Ministers Conclave begins
Shimla: Two day Himalayan Chief Ministers Conclave on Indian Himalayas :Glaciers, Climate and livelihoods began here today. The conclave was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary Smt. Asha Swaroop. The Conclave first of its kind , is being organised by the department of Environment, Science $ Technology Himachal Pradesh in collaboration with Lead India Leader in Environment and Development, New Delhi.
In her inaugural address and introductory remarks, Smt Aasha Swaroop, said that the conclave has been conceived to focus attention on the critical need to ensure sustainable development of the Indian Himalayas. In order to mitigate the impact of global climatic change, there was need to understand and respond to the challenges facing the Himalayas and the country as a whole.
The two-day workshop will dwell on the various issues pertaining to the present state of Indian Himalayas and find out ways and means to preserve an save the eco-system of our Himalayas. The workshop aims to define priority issues and share the recommendations of the workshop with the Chief Ministers of Himalayan States of the country. The conclusions of this conclave were likely to become part of national process and the dialogue initiated here could be institutionalised in the future as well.
Expressing her concern over the fast changing scenario of Indian Himalayas, Chief secretary said that hill States were expected to be synonymous with snow clad mountains, lush green meadows, enchanting picturesque dense forest, rich in flora and fauna and clean air and water. But such type of image in our mind has become exception than the rule.
She said that the entire hill States in the country were facing stresses of various kinds including fast pace of urbanisation and growth of tourism. This has had devastating effect o the environmental protection and conservation. One of the alarming threats being posed today was the climate change. The world today is growing warmer and the average temperature of Shimla had risen to one degree. Likewise, the monsoon, summer and spring seasons had been witnessing a radical shift. The change in climate has led to the shift in the cropping pattern in the hilly areas. She said that 70 % of the population is dependent upon the agriculture and horticulture and animal husbandry for their livelihoods. The drastic climatic change had been adversely affecting the livelihoods and socio-economic lifestyles.
Chief secretary further told that our Himalayas had the largest concentration of glaciers outside the Polar Regions and some of the prominent rivers of northern India originate from these Himalayan reservoirs. Large number of people live under the glacial umbrella and we need to work out the sustainable development plans for the agriculture, hydropower, tourism, horticulture, industry and other infrastructural development. The States of Hilly regions were performing the additional and important responsibilities of protecting the fragile eco-system. Hence the green cover in the form of forest was required to be protected at any cost. The forest cover acts as a natural thermostat and helps in regulating our climate. She said the Himachal Pradesh was committed to the development of a sustainable low carbon economy and the government had initiated various remedial measures in this direction
Smt Aasha Swaroop further said that preparation of an Environment Master Plan was underway to identify the nature of vulnerabilities in different locations of the state. An active Remote sensing Cell has been set up in the state council of science and Technology. The distribution of CFL Bulbs to the consumers have helped to a great deal to save on the energy front. She said that a new programme CLAP- Community Led Assessment Awareness, Advocacy and Action Programme for environment protection and carbon neutrality has been launched in the State. This is being implemented through civil society organisation such as NGOs, Eco-Clubs Mahila Mandal and Yuvak Mandals etc.
Present during the inaugural session were Dr R.S. Tolia, former Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand, Mr Andreas Schild DG, ICI, MOD, Dr. P.S. Ahuja Director IHBT CSIR Palampur Prof S.I. Hasnain TERI New Delhi, Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary and Shri Nagin Nanda, Head and Director of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology.
