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THE CHIEF MINISTER WRITES P. K. DHUMAL Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh –
“Why can’t Himachal get carbon credits for keeping India green?”
HE BJP returned to power with a popular mandate in December last year, winning 43 (???) seats in the 68-member Assembly. It was a rare moment. It was the first time in the state’s politi cal history that a non-Congress Government had been formed on its own strength. It’s a great opportunity for me to head the state for the second time, and also a challenge to put Himachal back on track with fast-paced development, economic growth and infrastructure building. It’s an exercise that should be undertaken with strong determination and without disturbing the ecology of the hills.We are a small state rich in resources, which, if exploited in a systematic and sustainable manner for, can turn the state into a model of self-re liant economy. I am sure that if the available resources are exploited wisely, the state may not even require special favours like additional funding for sustaining development or meeting other commitments in social sectors. Himachal is moving in this direction slowly but firmly and I have resolved to make it a model of a self-reliance through such initiatives.
Being a special category state, we are entitled to Central care in matters of funding. Unfortunately, the state has got a raw deal at the hands of the Centre; it has never been sympathetic or generous to us. Himachal has an untapped wealth of Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the form of forests. In all these years, the state has taken care to preserve the forests and maintain ecological balance at the cost of development and resources-which otherwise could have accrued to us. We have been denied our legitimate dues under the States’ Reorganisation Act 1966 and our voice is hardly heard or given due weightage. Perhaps, it’s because Himachal doesn’t have a powerful lobby at the Centre to influence decisions or get its legitimate rights. Among the many instances of neglect are the visit by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Himachal in June 2005 to dedicate the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Electric Project. He made several announcements about a “special package” for the state’s development, but nothing has matured so far. Still, we didn’t raise a hue and cry. The Centre has failed to provide the state its legitimate share in the railway network expansion and roads remain the sole mode of connectivity. The state conducted a prefeasibility survey for the Bhanupalli-Bilaspur-Beri broadgauge railway line at its own expense and proposed the same for funding by the Centre. But despite assurances by the Prime Minister and Union Railway Minister Laloo Yadav’s announcement of the project in the Budget, it has not been taken seriously. Under the agreement, the Centre and the state have to share the expense in a 75:25 ratio. The state government as already made a provision of Rs 37 crore but we haven’t heard of a suitable budgetary provision from the Centre. Himachal preserves and conserves its vast natural potential for the benefit of the nation, but it has not been compensated. The rivers originating in Himachal generate power and irrigate fields in the neighbouring states. The forests absorb the carbon generated by the industry and other emissions in downhill areas. The Kyoto Protocol 2005 caps the quotas on the maximum amount of greenhouse gases for developed and developing nations. In return, these countries set quotas on the emission by installations run by local businesses and other organisations. If European countries like Switzerland, Austria and Finland get carbon credits, why can’t Himachal be compensated through carbon credits for maintaining the ecological balance in the country? I have raised the matter on all the fronts. I have personally discussed the issue with Central authorities, including the Union Minister of State for Environment. Himachal needs cost benefits to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore in lieu of the carbon credits earned by the country for the ecological balance it continues to maintain sacrificing its revenue returns of an equal amount. A glaring example of the Central apathy is also in its shifting the forests from the state list to the concurrent list in 1976, taking control of the country’s forest wealth. Himachal’s income from the forests before nationalisation was almost Rs 100 crore per annum. This is a big blow as no steps were taken to compensate the state. To preserve the forests, a complete ban had been imposed on green felling and now people cannot even meet their basic needs of timber. The state has been ruled for most part by Congress governments, which are yet to cite an example where they fought for the interests of the state even though the same party had been in power at the Centre and in the state. We have been fighting for our legitimate claims which stand on sound footing and logistics. We have a strong political will to fight for our rights at all levels and are capable of generating resources for our own needs. Himachal has a negligible representation in Parliament with only four members and they are not taken seriously by any Union ministry. We lack political muscle power but not the will to fight for our rights. While the neighbouring states get huge Central assistance in the name of terrorism and farmer debts, Himachal doesn’t figure anywhere in the Centre’s compensation list despite being peaceful and unaffected by terrorism. The people of Himachal Himachal Pradesh will not remain silent spectators for long and are prepared to fight for as long as it takes on all fronts. |