Sunday’s One-Day Conclave of Himalayan States conducted at Mussoorie was of great importance for all states of the region including Arunachal Pradesh. It was the occasion when the actual realities these states confront had been conveyed to Central authorities along with a host of suggestions and demands. But the crux of the issues put forward seems to harp on the idea of development without compromising environment. Inputs from these states is expected to serve as building ingredients in framing of an appropriate policy for this region displaying a fine balance that would meet both the above expectations.

All participating states had unanimously placed the demand that 'green bonus' should be granted to them for the ecological services they provide in context of the whole environment of the country. It is a very legitimate demand since for centuries this region is playing a pivotal role in balancing the overall environmental ruins and it is but for this, it wouldn’t have been possible for India to meet its global commitments under various environment treaties. The region  continues to play this benefactor role even if it bears the maximum brunt of global warming which has resulted due to climate change and has placed its fragile ecology that supports large river systems and populations under tremendous stress. It is encouraging that the need for the region’s water conservation has been given due importance since the Himalayan glaciers feed the headwaters of important North Indian rivers which are responsible for the well-being of millions who live in the Indo-Gangetic plains. This has also been acknowledged by  Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who has agreed in principle that long term strategies must be formulated for protecting the fragile Himalayan ecology. Reminding the gathering of the state’s invaluable ecological services to the nation and the world as a carbon sink, Dy, CM while representing Arunachal has highlighted the need for enhancing the fund weightage to keep in tune with the economic implications arising from denudation of state's forest cover with agricultural practices getting affected in the process. Suggestion for applying Scientific Vulnerability Index for allocating funds between states and revamping of current norms of disaster relief under SDRF/NDRF guidelines are also suggestions that carry importance. Fifteenth Finance Commission has also been urged upon to take into account the immediate and evolving socio-economic realities while fixing the state’s share of central taxes since most of these states largely depend on the Centre for their financial needs. The demand for a separate ministry to deal with the problems endemic to this region also needs to be given a serious thought.

In a nutshell it can be said that to fortify the Himalayan Region which is the custodian of the country’s ecology and also for its economic progress, the approach must be a balanced one with a long term vision.  

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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