Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state with dense temperate and alpine forest reserve and rich environmental heritage, has undergone tremendous infrastructural change over the years with influx of tourists and construction projects in the name of development. All these activities have had or will have negative consequences, disturbing the natural homeostatic balance of the Environment beyond its re-entering capacity.
There has been rapid contractions inglaciersurface area, and on the other hand, expansions in over the past few decades. Since these are tell-tale signs of a looming disaster in the coming years, a watchful eye, sustainable and planned Infrastructure development is the need of the hour.
Since Himachal is a green-fuel (Hydro Power) surplus state, there is certainly no need for arresting large rivers as planned for the Chandra and the Bhaga in Lahaul-Spiti district. The recent Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand should serve as a warning for undertaking such ambitious but highly unsustainable developments. High-rise constructions in a highly earthquake prone area of Zone-V are an invitation to mass annihilation any day, a making of pre-planned bomb.
Himachal has to focus on imbibing all possible Sustainable Development practices towards economy“>Green Economy. The level of environmental awareness needs to be raised along with drafting of new legislations to support the environment. Eco village is an emerging concept in the hill state. It focuses on treating village life being in absolute sync with nature by developing low impact lifestyles that reduce the Ecological Footprint by as much as 50% of the base assessment from launch of the scheme.