New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) Concerned over the threat to natural resources in the Himalayas, environmentalist here Sunday said there was an urgent need to preserve its ecology and the country’s states benefitting by the mountain’s resources like water should step up effort to protect them.
Observing the ‘Himalaya Day’ for the third year consecutively, the environment activists urged the central government to urge the states which reap benefits from its natural resources like water to join hands to conserve it.
“Responsibility to conserve the richness and resourcefulness of the Himalayas needs to be shouldered by every citizen of the country,” said eminent environmentalist Anil Joshi.
“The call by us (activists) is to develop strong collateral relations between mountain and non-mountain regions to negate the threats posed to natural resources, water and oxygen, as Himalayas is not a concern for the Himalayan communities alone; it rather is a question of the security of livelihood which involves all the parts of the country that reap multiple benefits from it,” he said.
A group of environmentalist gathered in national capital to celebrate Sep 9 as Himalaya Day.
The day was chosen by activists in 2010 to bring awareness to save the lofty ranges of Himalayas which are under ecological threat due to increased human interference.
“Unfortunately, Himalayas are seen as a commodity. Everybody just enjoys the resources but no one is ready to address the crisis of this region,” he said, adding that 65 percent of the water from the Himalayas is being used by other states while those in the Himalayan region use only 3.8 percent of it.
He also said Himalayas are dying as the snowfall patterns are drastically altered and glaciers are melting in the region. Landslides, cloudburst are the results of mistreating the nature.
“If we don’t get our acts together… we will have to bear the brunt, which would be devastating. Changing climate pattern means more frequent droughts and floods not only in the region but also those living in downstream,” he added.
Various environment activists participating in the Himalayan Day celebration demanded a separate board to be formed to tackle environment issues in the Himalayan region.
“To safeguard Himalayas a separate board comprising representatives from various states should be formed so that they could focus on the issues pertaining to it,” an activist participating in the event added.
