Green dividends, bonus for Himalayan states planned

The central government plans to release green dividends and a green bonus to the Himalayan states from the next financial year as a compensatory measure for protecting their ecology, Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh said Friday.

"We are considering the release of green dividends and green bonus to the Himalayan states from the next financial year as a compensatory measure for protecting the Himalayan ecology. The Finance Commission and the Planning Commission have been approached in this regard," Ramesh said Friday on the concluding day of a two-day meet on the environment of five Himalayan states.

The minister said that the central government was also considering taking the snow-covered areas above 4,000 metres altitude out of the definition of forest land, which would benefit all the 12 Himalayan states.

On the conclusion of the meet, a Shimla Declaration was signed by five Himalayan states - Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Releasing the declaration here, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said the Himalayan states had resolved to jointly face the challenge of climate change and sustainable development.

He said the states also agreed to establish a Himalayan sustainable development forum, managing water resources for sustainable development, green transportation, payment for ecosystem services, dealing with impacts of climate change on livelihoods, managing growth of eco-friendly tourism and pilgrimage and green industry.

"Other Himalayan states should also come together on one platform and join hands to articulate their common concerns to pool efforts and initiatives and exchange good practices to work towards the goal of sustainable Himalayan development," he said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokharyal said: "Out of 9,000 glaciers in the Himalayas, as many as 1,439 are in our state. Global warming is melting glaciers speedily, threatening flora and fauna of the Himalayas. There is a need for change in lifestyle of the people, reduce emission of greenhouse gases and increase green cover to compensate the damages."

Jammu and Kashmir's Environment and Forests Minister Mian Altaf Ahmed expressed concern over the climate change, which was adversely affecting the horticulture in his state.

Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi, said that the environment had emerged as global political issue, which needed to be taken in right spirit for the benefit of all.

Last updated on Oct 30^th, 2009 at 21:18 pm IST--IANS