HIMALAYI PARYAVARAN SANRAKSHAN JAN-ABHIYAN (REGD) (People Action for protection of Himalayan Environment) Website: himalayanenvironment E mail: jaghimalaya@gmail Dated the 10th,June,2013 THE DREAM OF ‘PAHAAR BASAO HIMALAYA BACHAOO‘ CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED UNLESS SERIOUS EFFORTS ARE MADE ON THE GROUND TO CHANGE THE OLD AGED POPULAR PERCEPTION THAT ‘PAHAAR KA PAANI AUR PAHAAR KI JAWANI PAHAAR KE KAAM NAHI AATI’ meaning thereby that youth born and brought up in Pahaar (HILLLS) migrate to plains in their early youth in search of petty livelihood. Similarly, water from mountains flows down to plains causing devastating floods resulting into heavy loss of human and animals lives and property there every year during rainy season. On the other hand in summer Indian Himalayan mountains comes under the severe grip of acute shortage of drinking water for human and animal consumption as also shortage of water for irrigation and various other purposes due to which thousands of earlier operative ghraats (flour mills) run with water have to be closed down here permanently. Besides, thousands of Khaals (lakes /ponds) known in the past by different respective names and provided drinking water for animals had gradually dried up so much so that the culture of khaals has by now become a thing of the past. 2 There has been unmindful wide spread man made destructions and obstructions all over the Indian Himalaya during past some decades and in some cases it is done so in the name of so called development causing enormous degradation to its environment in many ways. Scientists and other sections of the society are worried about this scenario. Himalaya in fact today is bleeding and crying for help and immediate intervention. If Himalaya is duly taken care then its mountain ranges can prove to be of a great boon to the humanity as it has the vast treasurer of natural resources in the form of abundant pure water, forest resources, fertile soil, fresh air, timber and herbal wealth. And above all it has a great potential for lessening the effects of global warming. 3. It will be relevant to mention here that life and livelihood of mountain people living in the entire Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), is more or less the same everywhere. The people here have very hard life in the mountains as they have to walk long distances and climb up difficult terrains daily for their daily basic necessities of food, fuel and fodder and water. Unfortunately, however, no serious attempt has been made by the Government during the past sixty five years to mitigate their hardship. Briefly, Himalaya is like an ocean which cannot be crossed by tiny boats or in other words by small efforts and with the help of NGOs only. Truly speaking and to be honest it requires a Himalayan size of concerted and gigantic approach and a whole hearted thrust for the same. Accordingly, in view of the present state of all round degradation of Himalayan Environment encompassing from the state of Jammu & Kashmir to North East, there is an urgent need for formation of a Himalayan Environment Protection Force (HEPF) on the lines and not lesser than the scale of Borders Security Force (BSF) having its five divisions viz., Civil Engineering Division (check dams constructions, maintenance & repairs). Cold Water Fishery Division, Tree Nursery Division, Manual Plantation & Caring Division having its net work spreading from each blocks, tehsils to District and a small unit of Helicopter Division is an ultimate and urgent solution to save Himalaya and its Environment and solve its other related multi dimensional problems of livelihood, employment, migration and rapid rural development. An action plan in this regard was submitted to Dr. Man Mohan Singh, Hon’ bled Prime Minister of India on 20.5.2010 who sent it to the Ministry of Forest & Environment, GOI who in turn forwarded it to the GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment for comments in June, 2010. Unfortunately no information in this regard has been received inspire of three reminders sent to the Humble Prime Minister. It is, however, learnt from the Director GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment, that their comments in the matter has been forwarded to the Ministry of Environment in November, 2011 which is still lying with them without a decision. This is more so when Sheri Harish Rabat jib the then Minister of State for Labor & Employment, GOI who himself hails from Uttrakhand part of Himalaya and well conversant with the ground realities. vide his D.O. LetterNo.MOS/L&E/VIP dated 17th August, 2010 addressed to the Humble Prime Minister has very strongly recommended for consideration of our action plan for formation of Himalayan Environment Protection Force (HEPF). Similarly, a proposal made by some of the stake holder organizations working for Himalaya including ours for declaring Ninth September of each year as ‘HIMALAYA DAY” was sent to the Humble Prime Minister of India about two years back . Humble Sheri Harish Rabat jib with his constructive help and support has been kind to get the proposal approved from the Cabinet Secretary more than one and half years back which was sent to the Ministry of Environment & Forest being the nodal Ministry for preparation of a resolution to be passed by the Parliament in this regard. But again it is a pity that the needful has not been got done till date. This indeed cast a very sad commentary on most of our present day political masters and bureaucrats. Besides, our proposal for formation of an independent Ministry of Himalayan Affairs as also a proposal for convening a two days National Convention on Himalaya in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Humble Prime Minister has not been replied to. 3. The facts mentioned above force the people of Himalaya to believe that policy about Himalaya is made in the Vegan Baan by those political masters and bureaucrats, most of whom, have a little knowledge, interest and concern for Himalaya, the mythological abode of our Lord Shiva. WAKE UP CALL FOR SAVING HIMALAYA THE PEOPLE OF HIMALAYA MUST THEREFORE AWAKE FROM THEIR SLUMBER SLEEP, UNITE AND INTEGRATE TO SAVE HIMALAYA LEAST IT WILL BE TOO LATE. A) Due to global warming’s, rapid climate changes and their adverse after effect survival of future generation is in danger. Himalayan Glaciers are rapidly squeezing in size due to melting. It is said that Indian cities situated on the bank of sea like Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Trivantapuram and other smaller town/cities may submerge in the sea in the next forty years or so. B) The Holy Ganges may vanish in the next - eighty years or so. C) Himalaya is situated in an earthquake prone zone and therefore construction of big Hydro Power Dams here are dangerous pursuits. Imagine if an earthquake of the intensity of more than eight raster scale when occur may break up Teri Dam and swept away Hardwar, Risks, Rookie and even up to certain parts of western UP causing unprecedented heavy toll of lives and property. WHAT TO BE DONE? 1. About twenty five percent population of Delhi and NCR constitute people from Indian Himalayan Region. They have a common cultural heritage and background as well facing the same kind of problems back home. Unfortunately, however, they are not united. Therefore, urgent need of the hour is that they all must unite and integrate under a common banner for ‘SAVING HIMALAYA FOR SURVIVAL OF FUTURE GENERATION’ and in pursuance of that organize cultural programs where ever they live in the name “EK SHYAM HIMALAY KE NAAM” comprising program of regional geet sangeet, folk dances, poems, debate and discussions, seminar etc. focusing attention and creating awareness on the issues concerning Himalaya. Similarly, such programs should also need to be organized by the people under the same name living in other places outside Delhi/NCR. . 2. It is proposed to hold a press conference in the first week of September, 2013 on the issue of gross neglect of the concerns about Himalaya by the central and state governments 3. This year Himalaya Day program is proposed to be celebrated in Hindi Bhavwan near ITO on 9th September, 2013. 4. It is proposed to organize public rally/meetings and relay fasts etc at Jantar mantrar on the issues of gross neglect of the concerns about Himalaya, in October/November; 2013. The program Be decided and announced during this year Himalaya Day Celebration as indicated above ………………
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:43:12 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015