Rs 150 Cr earmarked for detailed study of Himalayan ecosystem

Union Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre has earmarked Rs 150 crore for carrying out a detailed study of the Himalayan ecosystem. The Minister said this in a video message at the inaugural session of the fourth edition of Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS-IV) in Itanagar, which was formally inaugurated by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

Stressing on the need for continuous dialogue on sustainable mountain development, Javadekar said “we must take this scheme forward. The Centre has earmarked an amount of Rs 150 crore for carrying out detailed study of Himalayan ecosystem and meeting of all MPs from the mountain states will be convened during the Winter Session of the Parliament on the issue”. Organised by the Sustainable Development Forum Arunachal Pradesh (SDFA) under the aegis of Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), around 235 delegates from 12 mountain states of the country including 45 thematic experts are participating in the three day event.

“The mountain states with all resources, both natural and human, are very promising. Due to geographical and historical reasons, these resources are either under-utilised or ill-utilised”, Tuki said in his deliberation. Policy decisions to protect and sustainably harness these resources must be put in place and the Centre’s role was paramount in providing an umbrella for all mountain states, preferably in the form of a separate ministry, he said.

“The deliberation on climate negotiation in the legislators’ meet, a part of the summit, is also important for a highly green state like Arunachal Pradesh where we have issues of ecological services, carbon credit and compensatory mechanism”, he pointed out. “In the backdrop of global concerns and issues that can affect the lives of every person, sustainable development of the mountains, where existence of marginalised mountain people is assured, becomes a paramount issue”, Tuki said.

“It is necessary for the mountain states to come together and think of our sustained existence as also for the sustained existence of the mountains,” he said. The fourth Himalayan Legislators’ Meet and a Chief Secretaries conclave would be organised as part of the summit.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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