New CM Must Find New Development Model

By: Feb 24th, 2018 12:32 am

Prof N.K. Singh

Former Chairman, Task Force On Integrated Development, Panning Commission of India

The current practice of mindless pursuit of polluting industry -hydro power craze model needs to be discarded due to latest worldwide concern for ecology and acute sensitivity to preservation of Himachal’s climate and culture. No more industry harming prized landscape with hills and snows. Nature has given us dust free climate which must not be damaged in the name of job creation and surrendered to such old notions of money creation such as cement plants. The government has initiated measures to determine priorities for development by consulting concerned members of legislature. But this is only consultative aspect of democracy. Progress will need careful planning based on the strength and weakness of the state which need expert study and careful crafting a strategy. It might need an expert committee to propose a draft development charter. I propose six pillar-based development vision for consideration of such a body. This might sound radical redirection of state thinking but we need to transform our thinking.

Change To High Value Crop Cultivation

We are seriously handicapped in conventional crops growing like wheat maize etc due to three serious lacunae. First there are not adequate irrigation facilities and rain is not dependable resulting in crop failures. Land availability due to hilly terrain is also limited. Second monkey menace is rampant destroying all crops and fruits. Other animals too destroy the crops. Third the lantana grass and such growth that harms the cultivation is not controlled. The state must promote and find such a crop that can withstand these three major drawbacks to agriculture. Of course, apple is safe in heights but too needs protection. But non-apple belts also need cash crops. Farmers can cultivate such crops that yield good value and are such nuisance resistant. Examples are turmeric, ginger, Pecan nut, amla and similar crops that can yield good value and survive such calamities. Agriculture and horticulture can develop such catalogue and guide on how to cultivate and arrange its marketing. Above all organic cultivation must be the future cropping strategy.

Tourism: Second pillar of new development approach should be to give up focus on truck tourism and religious tourism in favour of high end tourism. Deluxe tourism needs creative and imaginative packages and full use of its potential to earn revenue and also to appear on the world map. I studied the growth of tourism in – a countries where tourism has made fabulous progress. I witnessed in Thailand visit to “bridge on the river kawai” (an old Hollywood movie site based on World War II) tourism package. We stayed in five star and were taken in the boat to this site. And on the way, they showed us how they get date sugar right from the trees to making the candy.

Similarly I went to South of France world renowned tourism site and was surprised that they were selling packages of visits to villages. We were taken from five start hotel to a village in the hilly terrain. It was a quiet village nothing else. Or we were taken on the way to a perfume factory. There is so much in Himachal, yet we do not market it and sell it with packages. We do not have integrated tourism with five star hotels. We don’t have roads and easy access. I discovered Masrur Temple and wrote its history with my research (Coronation of Shiva Rediscovering Masrur Temple). It could become a world heritage site but remains ignored.

After my book was published, it caught the attention of many readers and government asked me to make a presentation. At Dharmshala, I presented temple and its significance as the only temple in the world showing coronation of Shiva. Because Shiva is never shown as a King with other gods present in his coronation. It is a unique temple yet no one seemed to care of it. The then CM Prem Kumar Dhumal did start the project to develop and promote it but after he left no one bothered. Masrur with largest gathering of birds in Pong Lake could be a great tourism site but it needs development. We don’t have even a cafeteria and a toilet around the sites.

There are dozens of neglected sites in tourism but why we are not developing to create jobs and prosperity? It does not need government to spend money, it needs imagination and right parties that will get to make the tourism high end art craft and religious tourism success story. If Haryana that has no tourist sites can create tourism on roads, why can’t Himachal that has so much. Today the state is greatest hit in selling pollution free and dust free destinations to be prompted in the polluted world.

(To be continued)


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