From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu, on Wednesday said that development should not be at the cost of the environment.
He also suggested that there should be a pan-Himalayan development strategy comprising all Himalayan states of India based on the region’s natural resources, culture and traditional knowledge.
Speaking at a webinar here on Wednesday to mark ‘Himalayan Day’, Naidu called for rethinking the development paradigm in such a way that human beings and nature co-exist and thrive together.
He noted that the Himalayas are an invaluable treasure house and emphasised on the need to protect and preserve them.
Referring to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem being subjected to the threat of degradation, the vice president said development should not be at the cost of the environment.
Frequent natural calamities are a result of our carelessness towards nature, he felt.
Highlighting the contribution of the Himalayan ecosystem, Naidu said with more than 54,000 glaciers, these mountains are the source for 10 major river systems in Asia, a lifeline for almost half of humanity.
He also drew attention to the immense hydropower potential of the Himalayas which could make it a reliable source of clean energy, thereby reducing the carbon emissions.
Drawing attention to the fact that local communities are dependent on forests for their agriculture and basic needs, Naidu called for creating a development model that maintains balance between economic activity and the pristine environment of the region.
Suggesting that organic agriculture may be the best way forward in a fragile ecology, the VP appreciated states such as Sikkim, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand that have made strides in this direction.
He appealed to governments, scientists, and universities to find solutions to the challenges faced by farmers in adopting organic farming.
Calling tourism an important route to economic development in the Himalayas, Naidu has called for an ecosystem-based approach for tourism which is sustainable in the long run.