Warns against unregulated activity
Srinagar, Oct 13: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said protecting the Himalayas was a national responsibility, warning that unauthorised construction and unregulated activities could aggravate risks in the fragile mountain ecosystem.
Addressing a special session of the 13th All India Sustainable Mountain Development Summit at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Singh said every citizen had a stake in preserving the Himalayan ecosystem, whose health was closely linked to the country’s ecological security, water resources and livelihoods.
He stressed the need to balance development requirements and livelihood opportunities with ecological safeguards, saying environmental protection must remain integral to planning in sensitive mountain regions.
The summit, being held from October 12 to 14 at the Shalimar Convention Centre, is jointly organised by SKUAST-K and the Integrated Mountain Initiative under the theme “Contouring Sustainable Himalayan Landscapes for Inclusive Viksit Bharat”. Its deliberations include the draft Jammu and Kashmir Sustainable Mountain Development Policy 2026.
Singh said the Himalayas sustain springs, water bodies, river sources and glaciers while supporting tourism, agriculture and livelihoods. Protecting the region, he said, was therefore essential not only for mountain communities but also for the country’s long-term environmental security and economic well-being.
He emphasised that the responsibility extended beyond the government and scientific institutions, requiring responsible public conduct and greater awareness among local communities and other stakeholders.
Highlighting the government’s efforts to improve scientific understanding of the Himalayan ecosystem, Singh referred to the Department of Science and Technology’s work under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
He said three centres had been identified at the University of Kashmir, Sikkim University and Tezpur University to strengthen research on climate change and the Himalayan ecosystem. Research and institutional capacity-building were also being supported through state-level initiatives across the Indian Himalayan Region.
The Minister cited glacier monitoring and field-based research undertaken by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Ladakh and the Doda region since 2015. The work involves automatic weather stations, seismometers and studies related to landslides and past earthquakes.
He also referred to capacity-building in glaciology in Kashmir, aimed at strengthening scientific expertise and understanding of the region’s changing environment.
Singh said India’s weather radar network had expanded from 16 radars in 2014 to 50, with another 50 planned under Mission Mausam. The expanded observation network, he said, would strengthen weather monitoring and preparedness, particularly in areas vulnerable to extreme weather and natural hazards.
He also referred to a pilot study initiated by the Wadia Institute in 10 villages in Jammu and Kashmir, saying its findings could help inform locally appropriate interventions and guide the replication of suitable measures. He called for the findings to be considered while examining the draft Jammu and Kashmir Sustainable Mountain Development Policy.
Singh cited the Aroma Mission and the Purple Revolution as examples of science-led livelihood generation in Jammu and Kashmir, pointing to lavender cultivation in areas such as Gulmarg and Padder as an avenue for farmers and rural entrepreneurs.
He said region-specific crops could help build local economies, but sustainable returns would require stronger market linkages connecting growers with aroma and fragrance industries.
Access to technology and finance, along with support for entrepreneurship, would be essential to expand these opportunities, he said, adding that women’s self-help groups and young entrepreneurs could play a significant role.
The experience of Jammu and Kashmir, he said, offered lessons for other mountain regions seeking to build livelihoods around their natural and agricultural strengths.
Singh reiterated that scientific interventions and government programmes must be complemented by responsible decisions on the ground. He said preserving the Himalayas was vital for safeguarding natural resources, sustaining livelihoods and ensuring the long-term ecological well-being of the country.
The session was attended by Secretary, Science and Technology, Babila Rakwal; SKUAST-K Vice-Chancellor Nazir A. Ganai; and representatives of academia and the mountain development community.
