Himalayan states of India development Prfiles : a comparative analysis.

Most Himalayan regions of India possess certain commonalities like geogra phical features, climates, rugged terrains, transport and communication problems, economic backwardness, inadequate infra-structure and poor employment opportuni ties. Each region and sub-region, even micro region is, however, different in many ways from its neighbouring areas. For these reasons, planning and development process in the hills is difficult, time consuming and costly.

SHERPA, within its very limited financial and personnel resources, has been trying to study the environmental problems of the Himalayan states/regions of India, specially in the context of their developmental requirements. The environment and ecology of the Himalayan regions have been and are increasingly being influenced by the development process itself. These regions face a typical dilemma. They have to develop fast to improve the quality of life of their people while development activities as being taken up now tend to modify the ecology and environment in adverse ways.

The fact, however, remains that neither the development process can be allowed to stop nor can ecology and environment be allowed to deteriorate. It is, in this context, necessary that the present development strategies and programmes are studied vis-a-vis their environmental impacts for identifying and applying correctives that are both necessary and possible.