Himalayas as rightly termed is water towers of Asia. Being the only dependable perennial source of water to sustain. Acts as a jugular vein to support biodiversity in the subcontinent. Despite that it has been grossly ignored. It was Madeleine Slade, a disciple of Gandhi known as Mirabehn forewarned the authorities to Save Himalaya way back in 1952. During the time she spent in Kumaon and Garhwal and Kashmi. While establishing the Pashulok Ashram near Rishikesh and a settlement named Bapu Gram and the Gopal Ashram in Bhilangana in 1952, she took to dairying and farming experiments in these ashrams and also spent a while in Kashmir. She observed the destruction of the forests and the impact on floods in the plains and realised the need to take measures to contain and reverse. Efforts through her personal contacts failed as no one took her apprehensions seriously. Thereafter drew her attention through an essay titled Something Wrong in the Himalaya. For next 30 years the Himalayas were mauled beyond repair. In the 1980s, these areas witnessed a large Gandhian environmental campaign to save the forests called the Chipko Movement.
Now, when almost all known authorities have come out with an idea, to reduce dependency on monsoon in farm sector in the country, at the same time to cover of their lapses assure there is no immediate threat from climate change to farm sector which is not true. But overall demand of water records reveal in past 100 years the average temperature has risen between 0.7C to1.2 c
Himalaya the "abode of the snow”, is in proud possession one of the richest biodiversity of the planet. Born 250 million years ago from the womb of Tethys Ocean, Emerged a huge massive majestic, magnificent mountain ranges in the World, youngest but largest .Still growing taller with each passing day World's major rivers, the Indus, the Ganges and the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra, drain from Mount Kailasha. Himalaya mountain range - the longest and tallest mountain range on Earth. The Himalayas form a 1500-mile arc through north-eastern Pakistan, northern India, southern Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. To the north is the high plateau of central Asia and to the south are the plains of central India. The Himalaya Mountain Range has nine of Earth's fourteen peaks over 8,000 meters high. The highest peak is Mount Everest at 8,850 m Support life in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, India, and Bangladesh beside Tibetan Plateau. Their combined drainage basin is home to some 600 million people. From Karakoram and Hindu Kush west-northwest ranges, Tibetan Plateau, and on the south by the Indo-Gangetic Plain .Stretched to a length of 2,400 kilometres varies in width from 400 kilometres in the west to 150 kilometres east. The Himalayas may be divided Northern, Western Central eastern and Trans Himalayas, Greater, middle and lesser according to its elevation Region. Long and wide varying altitude, differences in climatic conditions gradients result in the tremendous biodiversity of the Himalayan region., unique floral and fauna wealth thousands of species thrive in the region, Their giant size influences weather patterns throughout the region, whilst melt water from the peaks feed the great rivers of Asia, including the Indus, the Ganges, and the Tsangpo-Brahmaputra. This water – and the sediments they hold – form the backbone of agriculture of the whole region. The Great Himalayas contain many of the world's tallest peaks, including (from west to east) Nanga Parbat, Annapurna, Mount Everest, and Kanchenjunga.
Another biodiversity reservoir is Western Ghats mountain range. Along the south-western coast of India called Deccan plateau, Trap of volcanic eruptions spread to a vast area eruption, Basalt being the main formation solid, robust much older to fragile Himalayas. These ranges are known for their rich bio-diversity and natural heritage.
The mountains intercept the rain-bearing westerly monsoon winds, and are consequently an area of high rainfall, hence known also as Monsoon Mountains. Spread on an area of 160,000 Sq. kms the rain gives Western Ghats its flavour and richness. Some areas receive as much as 350 inches of rain every year, making it one of the wettest places on earth. Agumbe area in Karnataka receives the highest rainfall in India. This also makes most part of the Western Ghats evergreen. The evergreen forests are abundant in flora and fauna. The western Ghats are home to more than 5000 species of plants and about 35% of these are endemic to this man's entry and exploitation of the region has meant that many species have become extinct or are threatened and on the verge of extinction. We present a brief look at the tremendous natural wealth of the Himalayas. Himalayas and the Western Ghats are two reservoirs of biodiversity in the subcontinent pushing these into the critical category of Biodiversity Hot Spot since decades, by mindless exploitation from humans. .
This terminology is denoted when any Biodiversity Reservoir, comes under stress, unable to support Flora and Fauna, on surface land and aqua nature Because of unbalancing the equilibrium struck over centuries to carry, ecosystem as evolved by nature. The very survival, of Subcontinent is on these and under grave threat. Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal plays a vital role dire essential for maintain the Biodiversity Reservoir Seawater forms clouds, got carried up to Himalayas and far and wide in the Subcontinent, Pours and support life twice a year Summer monsoon and winter cyclone All this goes in very precession, particular amount of water carried in to the seas, same converted by Sun with required amount of heat and clouds thus formed carried by atmosphere, This life sustaining water cycle evolved by nature has been disturbed very badly by humans and we have started to face tune Himalayas and the Western Ghats are two reservoirs of biodiversity in the subcontinent Pushing these into the critical category of Biodiversity Hot Spot since decades, by mindless exploitation from humans. This life sustaining water cycle evolved by nature has been disturbed very badly by humans and we have started to face tune .Himalaya as well as Western Ghats has been subjected to denuding of its natural forest cover. As per Indian forest policy, hilly areas should have 66% forest cover while as plains about 33%. But it is sheer 12-13% .Percentage of evergreen Forest is at base.
Beside reckless construction of roads mauled the hills which resulted in persistent huge slides. Thirdly mindless construction of Dams has further devastated the Himalaya .Seismological aspect is ignored altogether. The Indian Himalaya would have one of the highest average in the world, with one dam for every 32 km of river channel.
The Himalayas are virtually under bombardment—of dams. They would have the highest dam density in the world, with over a thousand water reservoirs dotting the mountain range in India, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan, over the next few years. These projects would have serious ecological and social impacts and would spell disaster for the biodiversity of the region. All this for the much-sought-after hydroelectricity, officially dubbed cleaner and cheaper.
To assess the sociology-ecological impact of the dams on the Himalayan region and the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra river basins, two researchers, Maharaj Pandit of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies of Mountain and Hill Environment at Delhi University and R Edward Grubine of Kunming Institute of Botany in China, used Landsat satellite imagery and spatial analysis. They studied 132 of the 292 dams in the Indian Himalayas that were proposed or were under construction by 2005. Even if these many dams are constructed, there would be a water reservoir in every 3,000 square kilometres in the region. This is 62 times the global average dam density.
The study, published in Conservation Biology in December 2012, shows nearly 90 per cent of valleys and 25 per cent of dense forests in the Indian Himalayas would be affected. Over 54,117 hectares of forests would get submerged, while 114,361 hectares would be damaged by dam-related activities—nearly 170,000 hectares in total. Also, 88 per cent of the project sites fall in zones rich in plant, bird, fish and butterfly species. Researchers’ model shows by 2025 deforestation might make 22 flowering plants and 7 vertebrate types extinct. By 2100, 1,500 flowering plants and 274 vertebrate species would be extinct, according to conservative projections.
It has been observed that “Firstly since the Dams divert or stop all the water in the river at least in the non-monsoon months, the river is taken away from the downstream people. Their source of drinking water, irrigation water and water for other needs in taken away.
Secondly the groundwater is also affected as the recharge function of the river for the downstream area is destroyed. Thirdly, fisheries and other biodiversity in the downstream river are destroyed. Fourth the concentration of pollution in the downstream increases due to stoppage /diversion of fresh water flow. Fifth, in absence of fresh water flows, the river can no longer act for navigation for the downstream communities. Sixth, the construction of Dam in the downstream areas and the floods become sudden and many times more destructive.
Seventh, the geo morphological behaviour of the river changes as the silt in the river gets trapped in the upstream dam. Last, with the drastic reduction in fresh water flows at the mouths of the river, the salinity ingress increases, which can affect the remaining fresh water in the river, the ground water in the coastal zone, and also the soil in the coastal areas. All these impacts need to be apprised and estimated for each Dam/link’ are ignored. At the same time it is the duty of every one to realize importance of Mountains. And ensure these are protected from manmade disasters. Failing of which there shall be a day when living here no longer as it is today.
