U T T A R A K H A N D: NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ECO-STRATEGY EDITOR R.P. DHASMANA CO-EDITOR VIJAY LAXMI DHOUNDIYAL V.K. PUBLISHERS, DA-9A D.D.A. FLATS, MUNIRKA, NEW DELHI-110 067 Simen puu ————————————————————————————————————— First edition: January 2008. © RPD-VLD Published by the Convener, SADED, Mr. Vijay Pratap DA- 9A. D.D.A. Flats, Munirka, New Delhi-110 067 and Simen puu, Finland, Director. —————— Helsinki. Also Available at: 1- 2- 3- 4- Printed at:———————————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————————————————— ii UTTARAKHAND : Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy ■ Introductory Preface The present venture is an humble attempt by the editors of the work to make the entire region of Uttarakhand known to those interested in respect of all that one wants to know about it. Then only one can think in terms of its eco- development or establishing eco-development in the newly formed State. To evolve a strategy for achieving these objectives, one has to understand the geographical profile and historical perspective of the region, understand its milieu and ethos of its people as well, its cultural background, fairs and festivals, language, folk songs and dances, its resources, simple technologies for capacity building of women there, vocational education, entrepreneurship, problems and needs of the local population, health status of the people, movements launched by the people from time to time and scores of things to determine the right mode of development. Part ‘A’ of the book deals with Uttarakhand–ID, Part ‘B’ talks of various challenges before the emerging State of Uttarakhand, economic scenariao and viability and Part ‘C’ deals with searching a role model of intelligent industrialisation of the State, finding out the main resources and their utilisation for the development of the State and Administrative and Management problems as also the strategy and approach to realize the objectives for the State. The book also struggles in between against evolving processes of decentralization, making Panchayat Raj system in Uttarakhand effective and connecting human right to development in this new State for the first time. Moreover, the State with immense possibilities of utilizing its water resources for power and evolving relationship between its people and forests has also been depicted well. We thus hope our joint efforts shall prove fruitful for our readers. If it happens what else we should expect from our efforts! -RPD-VLD * * * Uttarakhand: Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy has come into being with the help of a number of friends and wellwishers, While making the structure of the idea behind this work, I got many valuable suggestions from Vijay Laxmi Dhoundiyal which by and by enlarged the vision and made it firm and stable while inviting articles from the selected authors. The authors too, almost all of them came forward to help me with their articles. Hari Dev typed the MSS and my friend Suresh Nautiyal looked into the articles in both forms – MSS and TSS. At that time both Suresh Nautiyal and Hari Dev were working in the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. The convener of Saded, Mr. Vijay Pratap got interested in the book and said he would like to publish it. In the mean time ‘Simen puu’, through Vijay Pratap’s sincere endeavours, showed interest in the book and wanted to be co-publisher for this book. As a result, both VK and SP are the publishers. During the most important phase of re-editing, VLD came forward to assist me in everything needed in the process. Thanks to her assiduous and intelligent handling of the work, it could take the present form of the contents. In fact she was the sole force behind me and did a lot more than what I could do alone. I am rather indebted to her contribution for ever. In fact she is more than a Co-Editor of the book. I saw in her a vibrating personality embedded with several qualities of a good editor. Thus a very good friend of mine became an editing partner. Preceding this, Suresh Nautiyal had already made the way smooth and comfortable for us to tread upon. SN’s journalistic acumen and his quick grasp of things helped me in the past too. Finally, my brotherly friend Vijay Pratap should be praised for his onerous responsibility which resulted in presenting the book in the form you are having in your hands. My family members helped me remain in undisturbed state of mind, while involving myself in different precesses of this work. I am happy, the book is where it should have been now. -R.P.D. ■ UTTARAKHAND : Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy iii BLANK iv UTTARAKHAND : Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy ■ C O N T E N T S PAGE INTRODUCTORY PREFACE SECTION – A 1. A Geographical Profile of Uttarakhand - Dinesh Pratap 2. While Developing a Region, It Is Imperative to Know Its History - Lt. Col. R.D. Nautiyal 3. Historical Perspective of Uttarakhand - Prabhat Upreti 4. Understanding Colonial and Post-Colonial Uttarakhand - Dr. Shekhar Pathak 5. Ethos of the People of Uttarakhand - Dr. U.P. Thapliyal 6. Garhwali Theatre: Perspective and Possibilities - A Piece of Collective Writing 7. Kumaoni Theatre - Diwan Singh Bajeli 8. Fairs, Festivals, Folk Songs and Dance-Drama of Kumaon - Navin Pant 9. Fairs & Festival of Garhwal - Dr. D.R. Purohit 10. Female Literacy in Uttarakhand - Dr. Ramanand Gairola 11. Simple Technologies for Capacity Building and Economic Upliftment of Women in Uttarakhand - L.M.S. Palni and D.S. Rawat 12. Uttarakhand and Vocational Education - Dr. Manju Bhatt 13. Entrepreneurship and Long-term Education Policy of Uttarakhand -Dr. Arun Kuksal, Ashok Pharswan 14. The Cleavages of Local Needs and National Priorities - R.P. Juyal, A.K. Nauriyal, M.C. Sati 15. Chipko and, Now, Beej Bachao Andolan - N.P. Nawani 16. Health Status of the State of Uttarakhand - Vijay Dhasmana SECTION – B 17. Strengthening Ecological Democracy in the Central Himalaya - Suresh Nautiyal 18. Natural Resources and Disasters in the Central Himalaya - Prof. P.S. Saklani 19. Of Earthquakes - Dr. M.N. Qureshi 20. The Varunavat Landslide in Uttarkashi - Dr. D.S. Bagri 21. March 1999 Earthquake of Garhwal Himalaya - S.P. Sati, G.S. Rawat and M.P.S. Bisht 22. Rehabilitation of Degraded Land through Agro-forestry Approach in Uttarakhand - R. K. Maikhuri, R.L. Semwal, K.G. Rao and K.G.Saxena 23. Eco-Development of Himalaya: A Policy Framework - Bivekanand Dhondiyal 24. An Approach to Hill Area Development - D.S. Meshram & M.L. Chotani 25. Improvement in Quality of Life in Villages of Uttarakhand and its Eco-system -Dr. P.C. Pandey 26. Forest – The Life Line of Uttarakhand - Dr. U.P. Thapliyal 27. Forest Fire in Uttarakhand Himalaya: An Ecological Viewpoint - Rajiv Lochan Semwal 28. Sustainable Land Utilization in Central Himalaya: Problems and Management - J.C. Pant 29. Development Model for Uttarakhand: Some Reflections - Manoj Pant 30. Uttarakhand: First State to Assert Human Right to Development - Ravi Kiran Jain 31. Evolving a Process of Decentralised Development in Uttarakhand - Dr. K.N. Bhatt ■ UTTARAKHAND : Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy v 32. Making Panchayati Raj System Effective in Uttarakhand State: A Suggestive Framework - Dr. Mahi Pal 33. Regional Development in Uttarakhand: Prolegomena for Multi-Level Planning for Social Amenities - Sachidanand Sinha 34. Ideas for Political and Administrative Framework for Uttarakhand -Mukul Joshi 35. Upsurge in Uttarakhand and the Himalayan Region: Challenges for the Republic at the Beginning of the New Century - Dr. P.C. Joshi 36. Management of Development Programme - Prof. S.P. Kala 37. Role of RS and GIS Technology For Developmental Planning with Specific Reference to Uttarakhand - R.C. Lakhera and S.K. Srivastav 38. Economic Scenario of Uttarakhand - Dr. Prabhati Nautiyal 39. Globalisation and Mountain Communities: A Study of the Uttarakhand State in the Indian Himalaya - H.C. Pokhriyal 40. Economic Viability, Local Resources and Market Strategy in the New State - Mark Annand 41. The Emerging State of Uttarakhand : Challenges and Future - N.P. Nawani SECTION – C 42. TNORD as a Role Model for Intelligent Industrialisation of Uttarakhand - Ram Prasad 43. Science Driven Development of Uttarakhand Introducing the Challenging Field of i-Business - Pallavi Dhyani 44. Strategy and Approach to Realise Objectives for Uttarakhand - Rajnish Karki 45. Agriculture in Uttarakhand : Need for Basic Reforms - M.M. Joshi 46. Uttarakhand: A Potential Powerhouse for the Nation - Dr. B. Pant and Devendra Kainthola 47. Tapping of Hydro Power Potential of the State - Indivjal Dhasmana 48. Uttarakhand: The Potential of Water Resource - Ramesh Dhyani 49. Medicinal Plants: Focus on Uttarakhand - Prof. A.N. Purohit 50. Bio-Diversity: A Vanishing Himalayan Splendour - P. S. Negi 51. Wild Fruits as a Contribution to Sustainable Rural Development: A Case Study from the Garhwal Himalaya -R.K.Maikhuri, R.L. Semwal, A. Singh, M.C. Nautiyal 52. Problems and Prospects of Horticultural Development in Uttarakhand: Some Basic Issues - J.P. Nauriyal 53. Tourism: Its Impact on Evironment - Kamal Nath 54. Tourism in Uttarakhand: How to Touch Everyone’s Life - U. S. Pant 55. Towards a Corruption-Free Uttarakhand: Public Pressure Is the Key - Manoj Pandey 56. Why the Sustainable Development Has Not Taken Roots in the Himalayan Region - N.K. Doval vi UTTARAKHAND : Need for a Comprehensive Eco-Strategy ■ Geographical Profile of Uttarakhand Dinesh Pratap* Introduction Uttarakhand, administratively named as Uttaranchal came into existence as 27th State of Indian Union on the 9th of November, 2000 having been carved out from the parent state of Uttar-Pradesh. Extending between 28044’ and 31025’ North latitude and between 770 35’ and 8102’ East longitude, Uttarakhand is a well- demarcated geographical and socio-cultural unit forming a part of central Himalaya. Covering a length of 320 km in east-west direction and a width of approximately 250m in north-south direction, the region has a distinctive physical characteristic1.