12th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit kicks off in Dehradun
Dehradun, Sept 26 – The 12th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS-XII) opened today at Doon University with a loud call for mountain states to rethink their growth model and go back to basics — water, forests and land.
Inaugurating the two-day summit, Uttarakhand Forest and Technical Education Minister Subodh Uniyal warned that the Himalayas, which provide “80% of India’s water supply,” were being pushed into a cycle of recurring disasters.
“Development in the Himalayas must be both scientifically sound and people-friendly to ensure a safe and sustainable future,” Uniyal told a packed hall, adding that local communities must remain at the core.
“Our water, forests, and land are the foundation of life.
The bond villagers share with nature has always ensured its preservation — science and technology alone cannot do this,” he said.
He cited grassroots efforts in Uttarakhand — villagers supplying offerings at Badrinath and Kedarnath, pine needle collection to curb forest fires, eco-homestays to check migration, and mandatory plantation drives during the Harela festival.
“Organic farming and branding are helping our farmers earn recognition worldwide,” he added.
Keynote speaker Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta (ICAR-Roorkee) struck a cautionary note, saying that though “policies talk about environment, they rarely reflect nature-compatible approaches.”
Warning against unchecked religious and leisure tourism, he said, “Tourism brings income but it is choking the mountains with plastic and pushing them into vulnerability.”
Prof. Gupta pitched a mix of modern science and old wisdom to deal with the crisis — AI for disaster management, agro-ecological practices, innovation-led entrepreneurship, and revival of traditional livelihoods.
Doon University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Surekha Dangwal stressed the need for “collective research and institutional collaboration”
IMI President and ex-IAS officer Ramesh Negi bluntly said, “The Himalayas can no longer withstand unplanned development. We need a path that is both scientific and people-safe.”
The programme began with a traditional welcome by women from Niti Valley and a two-minute silence for those killed in this year’s monsoon mayhem.
Around 250 participants — farmers, scientists, officials and social workers from across the Himalayan belt — joined the opening day.
Farmers from Himachal, Sikkim and Uttarakhand brought their voices to the table, while an exhibition of local produce drew strong interest.
Three parallel sessions were held today, focusing on grassroots solutions to mountain challenges.
The summit will conclude tomorrow with Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri addressing participants, while MP and former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat will join as special guest.
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