A seminar on "Himalaya and Community" was conducted by the environmentalists at Amity University who accentuated for a comprehensive policy for the protection of Himalayas on the occasion of Himalayan day.
The seminar served as a platform for discussion on the major challenges facing the Himalayas such as increasing population, rampant urbanization, unchecked deforestation, melting of glaciers and various other ecological disruptions that are rapidly triggering disasters of the kind that occurred in Kedarnath and recent disaster in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking about the Importance of Himalayas in Sustainable Development of India, Prof. (Dr.) Kazi Jalal said, "The Himalayas sustain the climatic change and habitats of India and are currently undergoing rapid change, in terms of both ecology as well as the human settlements they support. At present, the region is facing trouble as no proper protection process is followed."
He stressed that the Himalayan people need to be protected through proper policy and planning.
J C Kala, Former Director General of Forest-cum-Secretary, Government of India said, "India is blessed with vast topography of planes and scenic Mountains and therefore, the maintenance of the serene beauty of nature is responsibility of the people. If Himalayas had not been here then India would not have been blessed with such diverse climate and probably would been a dessert."
"The disasters that took place in the region are because the issues related to Himalayas are overlooked, and that any such tragedy in the Himalayas is not just local, but has nationwide repercussions," he added.
The students had an interactive session with the speakers during which they mooted various suggestions for the preservation and sustainable development of Himalayas.
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The participating professors also further educated the participants about the Changing Attitude on Migration of Local Population of Himalaya and Role of Himalayas in the Indian Economy and Culture.
Himalayan Day is celebrated to spread the message that solutions for sustainable development and ecological stability for the Himalayas must be as unique as the Himalayan ecosystem itself.
