SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has called for science-based development planning, climate-resilient infrastructure and stronger disaster preparedness to protect the Himalayan ecosystem, warning that development at the cost of environmental stability cannot be considered sustainable.
In a message delivered at the valedictory session of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit on Wednesday, Sinha outlined four priorities for sustainable mountain development, including scientific assessment of carrying capacity, promotion of green livelihoods, community-based early warning systems and a zero-waste mountain economy.
The summit was jointly organised by the Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K).
Sinha said climate change, global warming, environmental degradation and unplanned development were posing increasingly serious challenges across the Himalayan region. He noted that the impacts of climate change had intensified over the past two decades, with natural disasters in different parts of the world highlighting the growing risks.
Describing the Himalayas as a vital source of rivers, a reservoir of biodiversity and a regulator of climate, he said disturbances to the region’s ecological balance could have far-reaching consequences.
“The vision of a developed India can be realised only when the Himalayas remain safe, strong and vibrant,” he said, stressing the need to align economic development with environmental conservation.
The Lieutenant Governor identified science-based carrying-capacity assessments and zoning as the first priority, calling for comprehensive planning to ensure that development remains within the ecological limits of mountain regions.
His second priority was climate-resilient infrastructure and improved disaster preparedness, including environmentally sensitive construction and community-based early warning systems that combine modern technology with traditional local knowledge.
The third pillar focused on regenerative and inclusive livelihoods through high-value horticulture, organic farming, modern sericulture, eco-tourism and other green-economy activities. He also called for empowering young people and women to become entrepreneurs and generate employment.
The fourth priority was the development of a zero-waste, circular mountain economy through better solid-waste management, wastewater treatment and recycling systems in urban and rural areas, as well as tourist destinations.
Sinha said the summit had provided a platform to discuss challenges concerning water resources, forests, land, biodiversity and climate change, while bringing attention to the concerns of communities dependent on the Himalayan ecosystem.
He also welcomed the preparation of a draft policy covering ecological security, responsible tourism, disaster management and sustainable livelihoods. He expressed hope that consultations would help turn the document into a comprehensive policy and implementation framework.
Emphasising the need to combine traditional environmental knowledge with modern scientific approaches, Sinha said effective policies and their implementation on the ground were essential to reconciling development with ecological sustainability.
