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| Safeguard Himalayas | | | Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while addressing the valedictory session of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit highlighted the need to establish a balanced relationship between development and conservation.
He stated the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ can only be realized when the Himalayas remain secure, healthy and vibrant.
Development is essential for improving the quality of life, generating employment, strengthening infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities. Mountain regions, in particular, need better roads, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, communication networks and tourism infrastructure. However, such development must be guided by ecological considerations rather than driven solely by immediate economic gains. Development achieved at the cost of nature’s stability cannot be regarded as genuine progress.
The Himalayas are not merely a geographical feature; they are a vital ecological system that sustain millions of people. They regulate weather patterns, feed major river systems, support rich biodiversity and provide livelihoods to communities through agriculture, horticulture, tourism and allied activities. Their importance extends far beyond the mountain states, making their conservation a national responsibility.
Unfortunately, growing urbanisation, unplanned construction, indiscriminate tree felling, excessive tourism and poorly regulated infrastructure projects are placing mounting pressure on this fragile ecosystem. Climate change has further intensified the challenges, with changing rainfall patterns, glacier retreat, landslides, flash floods and other extreme weather events posing serious threats to mountain communities.
Jammu and Kashmir has already experienced the consequences of ecological vulnerability. Encroachment on water bodies, construction in vulnerable areas and inadequate waste management can aggravate such risks. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events makes it imperative to place environmental sustainability at the centre of development planning.
The government needs to adopt a long-term, science-based approach to mountain development. Environmental impact assessments should be meaningful, construction regulations strictly enforced, forests and wetlands protected, and disaster preparedness strengthened. Infrastructure projects must incorporate geological realities and climate risks. Local communities should also be involved in decision-making because those who depend directly on mountain resources have a vital stake in their preservation.
Equally important is public awareness. Citizens, tourists, businesses and institutions must recognise that conservation is a shared responsibility, not merely a government obligation. Sustainable practices today can protect livelihoods and resources for generations to come.
A developed India and a protected Himalayas must remain complementary goals. If the mountains lose their ecological strength, the consequences will extend far beyond their immediate surroundings. Protecting the Himalayas is therefore not an obstacle to development; it is a fundamental condition for achieving lasting prosperity and realising the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. |
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