Himachal CM releases Shimla Declaration on Sustainable Himalayan Development
Shimla: Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister Himachal, released the Shimla Declaration on sustainable Himalayan Development, after taking cognizance of recommendations from the four thematic groups, the Himalayan Chief Ministers’ Conclave 2009, has resolved to jointly face the challenge of climate change and sustainable development. The Conclave agreed to Establishment of a Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum; Setting Up State Councils for Climate Change; Catalyzing research for policy action; Payment for ecosystem services; Managing water resources for sustainable development; Challenge of Urbanization; Green Transportation; Dealing with impacts of Climate Change on livelihoods; Decentralised energy security; Managing growth of eco-friendly tourism and pilgrimage; Green Industry and Green Job Creation.
Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, gave a clarion call to all the Himalayan States of the country to come forward to constitute a Himalayan Development Forum to protect their interests by developing an institutional mechanism to jointly try and work out strategies to meet the challenge of climate change. He was delivering his welcome speech on the concluding session of the two-day Himalayan Chief Minister’s Conclave jointly organized by the Department of Science, Technology and Environment and Leadership for Environment and Development – India (LEAD) at Peterhoff, here today.
He said that Community LED Assessment, Awareness, advocacy and Action Programme (CLAP) had been launched in the State to mobilize people at grass root level and associate them in environment protection. He said that three vehicle Paryavaran Chetna Karwan had also been launched for visiting remote corners of the State to mobilize the movement.
Prof. Dhumal said that the state had made it mandatory to all power projects constructed as run of the river and to preserve down stream riverine ecology prescribed release of 15 percent minimum water flow down stream. He said that use of plastic bags had completely been banned in the State besides the State had successfully implemented the Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna providing four CFL bulbs free of cost to every domestic consumer in the State.
Dr. Ramesh Pokharyal “Nishank”, Chief Minister of Uttrakhand, supported the proposal of his counterpart Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal of constituting a Himalayan Development Forum. He said that Uttrakhand was promoting eco-friendly eco-tourism, ayurved, health tourism etc. He said that different parameters were required to be adopted by Centre to determine the developmental requirements which should not be equated with the other States. He said that the Himalayan States were contributing significantly towards preservation and conservation of Himalayan ecology which was required to be compensated suitably. He said that out of 9000 glaciers in Himalayas 1439 were in Uttrakhand and were releasing about 500 cubic kilometers of fresh water. He said that global warming was melting Himalayan glaciers speedily threatening the flora and fauna of the Himalayas. He underlined the need for change in modern life style of the people, reduce emission of green house gases and increase green cover to compensate the damages. He said that Uttrakhand had 65 percent of its area under forest cover which was being affected with the global warming besides many of the rare herbs were also getting extinct.
Dr. Nishank said that the habitants of Himalayan States needed to be provided additional opportunities in development activities so that their energy was channelized for constructive activities while all basic amenities were available to their families back home. He said that Himalayan States had limited resources at their disposal and needed to be provided economic incentives to keep pace with the developing world. He hoped that the Himalayan Chief Minister’s Conclave would achieve the objective of its constitution by active involvement of all environment conscious people.
Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, said that the Government of India was considering release of Green Dividends/Bonus to the Himalayan States from next financial year as a compensatory measure for protecting the
Himalayan ecology. He said that Finance Commission and Planning Commission of India had also been approached to approve the move. He said that the Union Government was also considering taking the snow covered areas above 4000 mtrs. out of the definition of forest land which would benefit all the 12 Himalayan States of the country having population of about 6 crores and covering 15 percent of the geographical area of the country.
Union Minister said that the Himalayan eco-system was important for the nation and should not be overlooked. He said that the Union Ministry was clearing all projects after getting satisfied with the full environment assessment report. He said that Governance for sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system (G-SHE) would be the base for implementation of the Himalayan eco-system. He said that NGOs and civil societies had to be involved actively for preservation of the environment. He advised the Forum to associate north-eastern States also with it so that its area of operation was expanded to entire Himalayan region in the country. He assured the Forum that all out effort would be made at his level to implement the Shimla Declaration in right perspective.
Mian Altaf Ahmed, Minister for Environment and Forests, Jammu and Kashmir, apprised the Conclave of the environment protection endeavours in his State. He expressed concern over the climate change which was adversely affecting the horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir.
J.P.Nadda, Forest, Science and Technology Minister, proposed vote of thank and hoped that the outcome of the conclave would go a long way in furthering the outcome of the Conclave.
Dr. Sunita Narayanan, Director, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi and an international environmentalist said that environment was a new global science which needed to be taught to every individual. She said that forests of Himalayas were the limbs for the rest of the country which had to be preserved and conserved for the benefit of all living beings. She said that the environment had emerged the global political issue which needed to be taken in right spirit for the benefit of all.
Gajanand Pathmanathan, World Bank representatives from Washington DC, deliberated upon the South Asia Region – Sustainable Development Operations on Climate Change in the Himalayas: Opportunities for Trans-boundary Cooperation for Sustainable Development besides various environmental activities being undertaken by the World Bank.
Smt. Sarojini Ganju Thakur, Additional Chief Secretary, also welcomed the participants and thanked them all for attending the same and draw attention of the world towards global warming and climate change and how to protect the environment in the Indian Himalayas through a presentation on the occasion.
