NEW DELHI: An independent ministry must be set up for the Himalayan region which faces unique ecological threats, the fallouts of which will affect the entire country in the near future, a group of environmentalists and social activists said on Friday.
Marking September 9 as Himalayan Day, the group said the region needed the immediate intervention of national leaders, policymakers and people.
"The Himalayas are dying due to rampant commercial activities, a number of hydro-projects coming up on major rivers, forest degradation and threats posed by climate change. The Centre must set up a separate ministry for Himalayan regions to formulate a strategy to save the hills," said Anil Joshi of the Himalayan Unity Movement, an umbrella body of environmental and social organizations that organized the meet. P D Rai, MP from Sikkim, said there is a proposal to set up a working group for the Himalayan region in the Planning Commission. Minister of state for rural development Agatha Sangma and environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna also spoke on the occasion.