SHIMLA: In a recent discussion on a social media channel, retired Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh, Ramesh Negi, IMI President engaged in a candid conversation with Tikender Singh Panwar, former Deputy Mayor, Shimla shedding light on the pressing challenges confronting Himalayan towns and their inhabitants.
One of the paramount concerns Negi highlighted was the recurrent forest fires, man-animals conflicts, natural disasters, Highways in Himalayan region like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Northeast.
Negi, who recently took over as President of integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI), a civil society group engaged with Himalayan states, asserted that historical Forest Acts were primarily designed by British with the intent to safeguard commercial interests.
These laws often led to disputes and conflicts with local communities who were striving to protect their natural resources and livelihoods.
Ramesh Negi said that while the introduction of the Tribal Forest Rights Act was a step in the right direction, it was disheartening that it took nearly a century to rectify these issues.
Negi also delved into the realm of urban planning in the Himalayas, advocating for a modernized approach.
He argued that traditional British manuals were no longer applicable and stressed the importance of sustainable city development.
He cited the need for adopting technology suitable for the fragile mountain environment and drew attention to examples from countries like Thailand, where roads were built in harmony with the landscape.
Negi emphasized the urgency of raising awareness about the Himalayas' significance in Metropolis like Delhi whose survival is linked to the survival of Himalay.
These mountains play a pivotal role in supplying water for 50% of the country's agriculture, yet their importance remains largely unacknowledged by plains-dwellers.
Negi proposed a compensation system for Himalayan states as a means of recognizing and protecting their vital forest resources.
Furthermore, Negi touched upon a slew of challenges that Himalayan towns face, including water scarcity, rampant plastic pollution, and crippling traffic jams.
He emphasized the need for reevaluating construction strategies and urged for the development of localized solutions and financial models tailored to address these unique issues.
Ramesh Negi passionately advocated for a holistic and localized approach to tackle the intricate challenges plaguing Himalayan towns and communities.
Negi bat for insurance model financing the block level development in the Himalayan states as they need funds for repair and maintenance.
His insights shed light on the need for immediate action and innovative thinking to preserve this ecologically crucial region.
