HIMALAYI PARYAVARAN SANRAKSHAN JAN-ABHIYAN (REGD) (People Action for protection of Himalayan Environment) REGD HO: E-102, SAKET, NEW DEHI (INDIA) -110067 Web: himalayanenvironment Email:jaghimalaya@gmail Dated the 22ndJune, 2013 SAVE HIMALAYA FOR SURVIVAL OF FUTURE GENERATION 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’ The keys for solution of all the problems with which Himalaya is presently confronted with is concealed in the above old aged perception. Unfortunately no governments in the centre or in the Himalayan states have ever appreciated this and endeavored to unlock this secret. The perception conveys that youth born and brought up in mountains 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 Indians 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. Its chilling snow, beautiful mountains and scenic beauty can make it the most attractive tourist destination and a paradise on this planet as well has the potential of transforming it into Switzerland of India. Above all Himalaya has great potential for lessening the effects of global warming so far India is concerned provided it is properly taken care and developed. 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 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 and well trained and equipped with the knowledge and expertise of taking care of any natural calamity which may occur in any part of the Indian Himalaya), (2) Cold Water Fishery Division, (3) Tree Nursery Division, (4) Manual Plantation & Caring Division having its net work spreading each blocks and tehsils of each District and (5) 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’ ble Prime Minister of India on 20.5.2010 who sent it to the Ministry of Forest & Environment, GOI and finally it tricalled down to GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment for comments in June, 2010. Unfortunately no information in this regard has been received inspite of three reminders sent to the Hon’ble Prime Minister. It was, however, learnt from the Director GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment, that their comments in the matter had been forwarded to the Ministry of Environment in November, 2011 which are still lying with them without a decision. This is more so when Sheri Harish Rawat ji, the then MOS Labor & Employment GOI, who himself hails from Uttrakhand part of Himalaya and well conversant with its ground realities, vide his D.O. Letter No.MOS/L&E/VIP dated 17th August, 2010 addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister has very strongly recommended for consideration of our action plan for formation of Himalayan Environment Protection Force (HEPF). 4. The proposal for formation of HEPF has been thought after prolonged and sustained pondering as well discussions at various levels during the past twenty one years when its idea for the first time initially formed part of the lecture theme on ‘Conservation and sustainable development of Himalayan Eco system’ delivered by me (now Secretary General of HPSJA) in an event organized by the School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham (UK) in 1991 while undergoing foreign study abroad (Pl see photo gallery of the website: himalayanenvironment) Keeping in view of the difficult terrains and hard life of the people of Himalaya, their socio economic, cultural background and other factors, no other module to save Himalaya and its environment is considered feasible and workable and that is why several task force, permutation and combination including other National Missions/ programs designed and undertaken one after the other by the Central Government during the past sixty five years after independence to improve the situation there have failed miserably to bring forth the desired result. In view of this the HPSJA is of the firm belief that formation of HEPF is an urgent and ultimate solution to save Himalaya and its environment which will also handle any Natural Calamity occurring in any part of our Himalaya successfully together with solve its multi dimensional problems of employment, migration and sustainable development. Besides, it will plug reoccurrence of ‘Kargil’ like incidence to happen in the future as now there is always a fear of infiltration, incursion and invasion from our northern frontier especially from Pakistan and China with whom we have strained relation and common border along side Himalaya. It is afraid that any short cut method and half hearted approach in this regard will not help rather it may aggravate the situation becoming more worse in the times to come. 5. 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 Hon’bled Prime Minister of India about two years back for declaring Ninth September each year as Himalaya Day and Shri Harish Rawat ji 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 and 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. The underlined idea in this was to dedicate one day in a year to the glory and importance of Parvat Raj Himalaya which is so dear and important to us in numerous ways and spread awareness about its safety and environmental consciousness by organizing varied programs throughout the country on this day. But again it is a pity that the needful has not been well taken and appreciated 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 our proposal for convening a two days National Convention on Himalaya in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister has not been replied to. 6. In view of the position explained above, the people of Himalaya are now inclined to believe that policy about Himalaya is made in the Vigyan Bhavan 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 HIMALAY THUS IN VIEW OF THE POSITION STATED ABOVE IT IS HIGH TIME NOW THAT PEOPLE OF HIMALAYA MUST AWAKE THEM FROM THEIR SLUMBER SLEEP, UNITE AND INTEGRATE TO SAVE HIMALAYA LEAST IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO ACT UPON. A) Due to global warming, rapid climatic changes and consequently its adverse after effects is most bound to endanger survival of future generation as 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, Trivantapur and other town/cities may submerge in the sea in the next forty-fifty years. 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 racter 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 havoc and heavy casualty of human and animal lives which figure may run into lakhs besides immeasurable loss of property. WILL THE PEOPLE SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL AND GET PREPARED FOR THIS EVENTUALITY WHAT TO BE DONE NOW IS A BIG CRUCIAL QUESTION 1. About thirty 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 of ‘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. mainly 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 too 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 will be celebrated on 9 th September, 2013 the venue, time and other details will be notified shortly. 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 will be decided and announced during this year Himalaya Day Celebration. Please get prepared and provide support, cooperation and resources for this sacred cause. (JAGDISH CHANDER) SECRETARY GENERAL
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 13:16:14 +0000
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