[ad_1] The Chipko movement started from the border village of Chamoli agitated the entire country on the issue of environment. It started in March 1973 and on 26 March 1974, Gaura Devi of Raini village gave it a new identity. Chandi Prasad Bhatt, the main agitator of the Chipko movement, is at the fourth stop of his/her age. Brijesh Sati spoke to him/her on the success of this movement, today's situation and environmental challenges. Presenting major excerpts:- You saw the Chipko movement closely and played an active role in it. Seeing today's situation, you think this movement was successful in its cause?Uttarakhand was then a marginal area of UP. The Chipko movement there was very much discussed at that time. Announcements like 'not trees, we will cut', 'Before the tree', attracted the attention of the government, forest department and society. Its success can be gauged from the fact that it expanded in many parts of Garhwal and Kumaon division. Many new centers of movement were formed in later years. The then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh called me. The most bright side was that the government had to implement the Forest Protection Act.- 51 years have passed since the Chipko movement. Does the serious policy makers about the environment see?Neither governments nor common people are serious about the environment. In the 70s, when resources were low, the means of communication were limited and there were no facilities, even then people were more aware of their environment. If this movement had been learned, it would not have been the condition of the Himalayas today. Three major rivers of the Himalayas - Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus give 63% water to the country. The Ganges alone is 25%. But the effect of deteriorating environment in the Himalayas has started appearing on the rivers.- Leaders like Donald Trump do not consider climate change as an issue. There is no shortage of those who believe in this in our country too. Here too many people say that we should only focus on development.It is ironic that the world's big leaders do not pay attention to important issues like climate change. They are giving more priority to economy than ecosystem, while climate crisis is becoming a serious challenge before us. The glaciers are continuously slipping back. Because of this, the tree line is also going backward. Vegetations and animals are affecting. The low-lying areas are showing adverse effects on farming. Leaders will now have to take time out for serious brainstorming on this subject.- What does development mean for you? Should development be seen only by connecting GDP growth?To be honest, development on our environment and ecosystem is overshadowing. The weather is changing in high Himalayan areas, snowfall is decreasing and temperature is increasing unusually. The Himalayan regions are the most affected. GDP or development plans may be necessary for the country, but the environment is not auspicious for them.- Uttarakhand has been constantly falling prey to some disaster. What should be done to stop it?In 1976, to protect Jyotirmath from landslides, we planted massive trees on the banks of the Alaknanda River. Such plans were also made in many other places. Today the state is facing disasters on the day. There is a need to formulate a solid policy to prevent this. Environmental education should be taught in all schools. Large construction in the Himalayas was banned. Local people, administration and scientists should be involved in making policy. Also, it is necessary to study the environment and ecology of the entire Himalayan region.After Chipko, there was also a snow-consuming movement in the policy valley with the Indo-Tibetan border. There was any special reason behind this?24 years after the success of the Chipko movement, on 31 May 1998 people from the villages of the Niti Valley launched a new campaign for their traditional rights on the forests. Local public representatives and villagers named it Jhapato-Chhino Movement. It lasted at different stages for several days. In fact, the local people were denied their traditional rights after Nanda Devi Park was declared a world heritage in 1982.- Chipko movement was an important step towards environmental protection. But, today we see that the environment is being badly affected around the Rani's forest where there was a movement. How do you see it?On 7 February 2021, there was a huge havoc due to the breaking of the glacier over the village of Raini. A hydropower project was being built in the region, and electricity generation was also started from a project. I was not aware of this project, but as soon as I came to know, I wrote a letter to the Union Environment Minister and the Supreme Court. According to the rule, no construction can be done within the 10 km radius of Nanda Devi National Park. Then how did this happen? We did not learn from the Kedarnath disaster of 2013. The biggest question is why the results of the investigation of incidents like Kedarnath and Rani were not told to the affected people?- Any special thing about Chipko movement, which is still fresh in your mind and which you want to share.Incidentally, no male agitator was present on the day the workers of the contractor came to cut trees. In such a situation, Gaura Devi, president of Mahila Mangal Dal of Rani village, took the leadership and reached the forest with 27 colleagues. he/she strongly opposed cutting trees, but when the laborers did not agree, all the women clung to trees. This incident showed the courage and passion of the women of the mountain. After this, everyone joined the movement. [ad_2]
