New Delhi, Sep 28 (PTI) BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi on Monday urged the Centre and the governments of the Himalayan states to take steps to promote plans that ensure the conservation of the mountains and preservation of the environment, development, defence and culture of the country.
“Some governments, disregarding reports from scientists, geologists, earth scientists and experts in agriculture and biodiversity, are implementing various travel programmes, tourism initiatives and ill-conceived development plans in the Himalayan region, which are rapidly depleting the Himalayas’ extraordinary capacity,” Joshi said in Hindi in a post on X.
Expressing concern over the prevailing situation, the BJP stalwart said that for the past few years, the entire populace of the Himalayan region has been enduring “immense distress” due to environmental disasters and the excessive burden being placed on the Himalayas’ extraordinary capacity.
Migration from Himalayan villages is also steadily increasing, various construction projects are collapsing due to natural calamities, and roads and other infrastructure are suffering severe damage, he said.
Joshi noted that the international community has repeatedly issued warnings.
“In such a scenario, when the Himalayas are the primary source of our cultural preservation, natural wealth and economy, neglecting them could turn into a grave crisis for the nation,” he said.
Joshi said it is imperative now that all states in the Himalayan foothills seriously deliberate on this and immediately consider formulating an integrated, holistic development plan for the entire Himalayan region.
“I urge the central government and the governments of the Himalayan states to take steps to promote such plans that ensure the conservation of the Himalayas and preservation of environment, development, defence and culture,” he added.
Joshi said the Himalayas are not merely related to these states alone. The entire country is preserved and alive because of the Himalayas, he said, adding that it is noteworthy that 20 per cent of the country’s GDP is derived from the Himalayas.
“The Himalayas are the legacy of the entire country and protecting them is the country’s responsibility,” Joshi said.
“I believe if the Himalayas exist, so do we,” he added. PTI PK PK KSS
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