GANGTOK, 27 May: A two-day “Sustainable Mountain Development Summit” of the Indian Mountain Initiative (IMI) concluded on 22 May in Nainital (Uttarakhand) India. The summit was an attempt to bring together the 11 mountain states of India on a common platform and put mountain specific issues in the forefront including incorporating these into the planning process.
The summit was inaugurated by the Uttarakhand Governor, Margaret Alva, who, in her inaugural address, said that in coming years there will be increased dependence on mountain resources like water, biodiversity and recreation, while with growing population they are becoming scarce posing problems to sustainable mountain development [SMD]. The inaugural session was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Nagaland, Alemtemshi Jamir, and Principal Secretary, Planning, Government of Meghalaya, KS Kropha.
