Large-scale deforestation, reckless cutting of hills a cause for concern

The large scale deforestation, reckless cutting of hills, illegal mining, poor management of waste, falling groundwater table, biodiversity loss and soil degradation have become a matter of concern for residents of Himachal Pradesh .

Advertisement

Fast growing urbanisation is also adding more burden to environmental issues. Setting up of hydel power projects and big industries combined with other construction activities in the state have posed serious threats to the existence of forest and natural resources in Himachal Pradesh. These projects have become major environmental hazard and has disturbed the fragile ecosystem .

The state is losing its forest cover year after year. In the past 10 years, around 50,000 precious trees had been axed for making way for the setting up of cement plants, four-lane highways, buildings and hydel power projects.

It may be recalled that Kangra, Kulu, Kinnaur, Chamba, Solan, Bilaspur, Mandi and Shimla districts of the state are worst affected where hundreds of acres of land has gone barren because of reckless cutting of hills and felling of trees by the companies involved in execution of power projects and cement plants.

Large scale soil erosion and flash floods during monsoon last year has made lives of people miserable.

Most of the land and forests in these districts, now only look denude rocks. The Forest Department and district administration have failed to initiate action against the defaulters.

Over 30,000 trucks belonging to four cement plants, four-lane construction companies and power projects carrying cement, clinker and other raw material are plying on the state roads daily and have become a major health hazard as large scale pollution and emission of gases have resulted in various fatal disease in these districts.

Besides, environmental issues, it has further affected the tourism industry as there are regular traffic jams on the highways daily causing inconvenience to the tourists visiting the state.