SOLAN: Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said he has proposed creation of a “Himalayan grid” with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to solve the problems of the Himalayan states.
Governor said this while inaugurating the three-day HIM Samvaad- “Trans Himalayan Conference on Localised Solutions and Implementation Strategy”.
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said the Himalayan region has its own problems which need to be solved together. "But will this new baby- 'Himalayan Gird'- be ever born?" ask the people.
But Governor did not elaborate as to how this Grid will work in a vast and diversed chain of mountains that Himalayan region is.
In fact, Himalaya has become a "pet baby" of all such meets.
On the other hand, people of Himalaya express their ignorance as they "do not know as to what they have been cooking for them in these meets over the decades".
Previous governors also talked about creation of the "Sperate Ministry for Himalayan states", but nothing happened and all such Samvaads had ended up as mere junkets".
“More and more in conferences and legislation, but nothing in operation”, comment locals.
But will this new baby- Himalayan grid- takes some shape?. Or Else will it meet the same fate? One the rime will tell.
As far as today's Samvaad was concerned, its main focus was natural farming which was being promoted by the previous Jai Ram Thakur government in Himachal Pradesh.
Now the present Sukhu government has yet to take a call on the natural farming even as farmers in hills have been practicing this farming down the centuries.
In Past also many NGOs have been organising such meets over the decades. But nothing concreate is happening on the ground for the suffering mountain community.
In his address, Governor further said the Himalayan Grid could be considered on the same lines as the Coastal Guard Grid has been made for the coastal region.
He said he has also put this matter before the Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. HIM Samvaad can play its role in this direction.
The Governor said natural calamities like landslides in the Himalayan regions could be solved through such effective platforms and Sewa International work in this direction is appreciable.
He said that the youth power could provide solutions to many problems.
Vice Chancellor, University of Horticulture and Forestry Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel said industry-based agriculture is witnessing transformation to Natural Farming.
This farming has shown a potential to be a strong livelihood resource for Himalayan farming communities.
He said this methodology provides strength to the whole ecosystem, water, soil, biodiversity, nutrition. It ensures the well-being of the whole farming community in Himalayan region, he claimed.
Shyam Parande, keynote speaker said the rivers originating from the Himalayas irrigated the large part of the country.
He said that the Himalayas support 40 percent of the world's population and that's why we think about the whole world.
PadamShri Kanwal Singh Chauhan said natural farming is more important for Himalayan region.
He urged the farming community to adopt natural farming wholeheartedly. "We should preserve our chemical free traditional seeds and should not use plastic in Himalayan region", he added.
Executive Director, Sewa International Abhishek claimed that Himalaya is a life line and essential for our existence. "HIM Samvaad is playing an important role in the development of the Himalayan region".
But he did not cite concrete data to prove his claims.
The samvaad was organized jointly by Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Sewa International, Prakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana and Indian Ecological Society at Nauni.
