GUWAHATI, Oct 17 ? ?North East India should insist on measures that would expand the green cover over the Himalayan ranges. This is essential because the origin of floods in the region lie in those hills and mountains where forests have dwindled due to human intervention. We can call it a Himalayan Forest Policy,? said Sunderlal Bahuguna while interacting with the media in the city today.
He revealed that he had already talked with the Assam Chief Minister in this regard, and was hopeful that the people of Assam would adopt afforestation in a big way. ?There is no other alternative to checking the increased surface run-off from hills,? he stated.
Strongly opposing the proposed inter-basin transfer of water, he said it would be wrong to link rivers because there are great risks involved. He pointed out that glaciers, from where all the major perennial rivers emerge, were on the retreat, and there was already a reduced volume of water available in a river like the Ganga. ?In such a case, where is the water available for transfer??
Stressing the need for grassroots environment movements, he said, ?Outsiders cannot be of much help. All they can do is to introduce ideas. The real work must be performed by local people, whose lives are connected to the environment. For that to happen, the people must be aware, and willing to struggle.? Bahuguna affirmed his faith in the people, the press, and the Parliament, and added : ?The press has a great responsibility to spread environmental awareness.?