(a) whether the Government proposes to formulate any policy to save the environment of the
Himalayan region;
(b) if so, whether consultations have been held with the States in the Himalayan region
in this regard;
(c) if so, the outcome thereof;
(d) whether the neighbouring countries adjoining the Himalayas have also been consulted
for the purpose; and
(e) if so, the outcome thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI JAIRAM RAMESH)
(a) Government has placed Mountains, including the Himalaya, on its priority agenda for
environmental conservation. The National Environment Policy(NEP 2006), among others, have
recognized specific environmental issues pertaining to Mountain Ecosystems of the country
and elaborated upon the elements of Action Plan to be taken up. NEP envisages a few
specific measures for conserving the mountain ecosystem. Under recently released National
Action Plan on Climate Change, the Government of India has envisaged ‘Sustaining the Himalayan
Ecosystems’ as one of the 8 National Missions. The mission is aimed at evolving management
measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan eco-system.
(b) & (c) To realize the best outcome of these initiatives, consultations are held with Himalayan
States through G.B.Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED), an
autonomous institute of the Ministry, with headquarters at Almora, Uttrakhand, and its four
regional units located across Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) in Srinagar(Garwal,Uttrakhand),
Itanagar(Arunachal Pradesh),Gangtok (Sikkim) and Kullu (Himachal Pradesh). Recently,Government
of India participated in the Himalayan Chief Ministers’ conclave held at Shimla on 29-30 October,
2009, wherein,it was resolved to jointly face the challenges of climate change and sustainable
development in the region.
(d) & (e) India is a member of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD),
an independent nonpolitical intergovernmental organization of eight regional member countries
of the Himalayan region. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GBPIHED and ICIMOD,
signed on 25th September, 2008 enables Government of India, through ICIMOD for synergizing
resources for improving sustainable livelihoods in the Himalaya. This regional cooperation
attempts to use science and technology for providing integrated and innovative solutions
for achieving ecologically and economically sound mountain environment in the region.