Lok Sabha Question No. 2568 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-10
Subject: National Mission on Himalayan Studies
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: DUSHYANT SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2568 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.05.2016

## National Mission on Himalayan Studies

## 2568 SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS  AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the National Mission on Himalayan Studies along with the annual targets set under this Mission over the next five years;
- (b) the details of the problems identified in various thematic areas along with the solutions proposed for them;
- (c) the details of the funds released and utilized in this regard during the last financial year; and
- (d) the details of the pilots/studies undertaken in the focus areas of Himalayan glacier, forest, water and land?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) Recognizing  the  importance  of  the  fragile  Himalayan  ecosystem,  this  Ministry  has launched  the  National  Mission  on  Himalayan  Studies  (NMHS)  in  December,  2015  with  the objective of building scientific and traditional knowledge, a network of practitioners (individual and institutions) and to demonstrate workable/implementation/replicable solutions to the problems  in  25  identified  thematic  areas  during  the  next  5  years  through  studies,  pilots  and interventions. Outcome of the studies and action under the NMHS will facilitate informed policy decision and knowledge products for data deficit Himalayan Region.

The  annual  targets  for  2016-17  for  NMHS inter-alia include  strengthening  the  Project Management Unit and Database Management Centre at GBPIHED; review and monitoring of ongoing studies, pilots and interventions; award of fellowship and academic exchange programs for  upscaling  R&D  activities;  upgrade  research  infrastructure  of  key  academic  and  research institutions; develop education, awareness and outreach programs.

- (b) The problems identified in 25 thematic areas mainly relate to conservation, sustainable use  and  equitable  benefit-sharing  arising  out  of  natural  resources  utilization;  introduction  of technology (and after effects) without assessing local needs and priorities; isolated developmental efforts  and  absence  of  integrated  management  of  natural  resources;  absence  of

synergies and linkages to maximize the benefits of several ongoing schemes and programs of the Government,  often  in  silos;  limited  extension  education  programs  appropriate  to  local  needs; limited  long  term  studies  for  ecological  and  economical  changes  in  the  region  and  low investment per unit of area;. (c) During the year 2015-16, a sum of Rs.63.45 crore was released for implementation of NMHS and an expenditure of Rs.28.45 crore was incurred.

(d) A total  of  27  studies  have  been  approved  in  the  NMHS  for  implementation  during  the next 3 years in focus area of Himalayan forest, water and land. The expected outcome includes generation of baseline data, knowledge products in the form of policy guidelines and field based models to meet the objective of the Mission.

******