Environmentalists oppose - hydro and tourism projects in HP

Shimla, July 12 (UNI) Environmentalists in Himachal Pradesh have decided to protest the state government's decision to allow setting up of various tourism and hydro-projects in the state.

NGOs, including Jan Jagran Samiti, Karcham Wangtoo Sangarsh Samiti and Gramin Bhakra Visthapit Sudhar Sangathan have set up Himalayan Conservation Coordination Committee and decided to take up the environmental issues of Himalayan region jointly.

Addressing a press conference here, Convener of the committee, Ghuman Singh said Himalayan region was ecologically sensitive and the entire middle and trans-Himalayan area should be declared eco sensitive zone.

Demanding the state government to issue a white paper over the decline of agricultural land in the state, he said the land was being handed over to both big and small business houses for rapid industrialisation following which the agricultural land had witnessed a significant decline in the state over the years.

Expressing concern over the alleged devastation and damage to the ecology of the state following the construction of dams, he said no more dam projects should be allowed in state.

Mr Singh also alleged that even after decades of Bhakra dam's construction, the displaced people are still waiting for resettlement and rehabilitation.

Describing Bhakra as a national tragedy, he said people of Himachal Pradesh had given over 44,000 acre land for the construction of the dam and its reservoir, but in return they got a meager compensation.

He said the hydro projects have devastated the hills and damaged the sources of livelihood of even those people whose land was not acquired for the project.

The committee has proposed to set up an independent commission to ascertain the quantum of damage to the ecology of the state from allocation of these projects, he said.

The environmentalists said the newly-formulated Himalayan Conservation Coordination Committee would hold a three-day national level convention at Hanogi in Mandi district from August 17 on the environmental issues.

UNI