Saving the Himalayas, Finally

With a view to combating the threat of climate change, the plan to restore green cover and rearrange the degraded slopes of the Himalayas is both significant and appropriate, as the Himalayan region is crucial for the sustainability of the Indian sub-continent. As per the plan undertaken by the National Mission for a Green India, a large-scale tree plantation drive will be taken up soon in all the Himalayan states, including the Northeastern states. At the same time, restoration of the degraded slopes will also be done to prevent the chances of landslides and soil erosion. While it has almost been decided to plant sea buckthorn at higher altitudes, considering its ability to protect the environment as well as its commercial value, native plants will be used to prevent the degradation of slopes. Besides, a strong vigil system will be put in place throughout the Himalayan region to stop the practice of shifting cultivation, as such a method causes deforestation. Environmentalists are hopeful that if implemented properly, this plan will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, which have become essential in the wake of the climate threat.

Over the years, global warming has caused considerable damage to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, known as the lifeline of the great Indian plains, which is virtually a gift to this subcontinent by the Himalayas. The degradation of this region has affected the subcontinent in many ways, starting from the amount of annual rainfall, especially during the monsoon, to the fertility of land and the livelihood of the people. Yet, not much attention was paid to these problems until recently; rather, several damaging works were carried out in the region in the name of development. As a result, glacial bursts, landslides, forest fires, etc., have started occurring quite frequently these days, endangering the biodiversity of the region. This is why the move is a timely one, as the situation is fast threatening to go out of hand.

As per statistics, so far 240 severe natural disasters have damaged the Himalayan region badly. Unplanned development, ruthless cutting of trees, building hydel power projects, and changing the course of rivers have mainly caused these disasters. However, all these years, the authorities have provided mere lip service to the rampant destruction of nature in the Himalayas, for reasons best known to them. The failure to take timely action has now virtually taken us to the brink of destruction. Thus, the initiative launched by the Centre on a mission mode is a timely one to save the Himalayas and the people dependent on it. But the worrying factor is that we have witnessed many government initiatives fizzling out tamely after being launched with great fanfare. In this context, one can only pray that this ambitious project will be an exception to this practice and that it will culminate only after achieving its goals, as the crisis is a threat to our sustainability. To protect the Himalayas, we will have to deter ourselves from damaging its fragile ecology—a task that has remained unaccomplished so far. As the threat of global warming looms large, we will have to take up this unfinished task at the earliest.