Urgent steps needed to protect ecology of Himalayas: Sonam Wangchuk
Environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk has called for urgent steps to protect the ecology and culture of the Himalayas. Wangchuk, who reached Mandi on Saturday on the 21st day of his ‘padyatra’, highlighted the detrimental effects of unplanned development in the Himalayan region, particularly in Himachal Pradesh where natural calamities had devastated agricultural land and resulted in loss of lives.
The environmentalist, while addressing mediapersons, said, “In the name of development, indiscriminate destruction is being done in the Himalayan region. We must protect the environment and rich culture that the tribal communities have safeguarded for generations.” He added that the tribals had played a crucial role in preserving the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas.
Wangchuk reiterated the demand for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which would “empower its residents to manage their resources and protect their culture”. He said, “We are here to remind the Central Government of its promises to revive democracy in Ladakh and ensure local governance”.
He expressed concern over the exploitation of Himalayas resources to meet the needs of urban areas and warned that large-scale projects, including hydroelectric and solar power, posed a significant threat to the region’s ecology. “The adverse impact of power projects and four-lane highways is already visible,” he added.
The environmentalist said that since the abrogation of Article 370, there had been little development in Ladakh due to the lack of recruitment by the government. “Youth are unemployed and the administration, primarily led by a Lt Governor with limited understanding of local issues, hampered the progress of the region,” he added. He lamented that much of the financial support announced by the Centre remained unutilised.
Wangchuk urged the Union Government to take decisive action to protect the Himalayas. He warned that there was only a limited window of around five years to implement necessary measures before the situation becomes irreversible. He called for polls in Ladakh so that locals could elect their representatives. Earlier on his arrival at the Himachal Darshan gallery in Mandi, Wangchuk received a warm welcome from his supporters and locals.
