Disasters in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand point to flawed development model

Indigenous communities in the two ecologically fragile Himalayan States are routinely excluded from this narrative that fuels reckless growth. Article written by Manshi Asher published on 21/09/23 in Frontline The monsoon of 1999 is etched vividly in my memory. At 23, shortly after finishing my master’s, I was to join a project that worked on […]

In Himachal, a deluge of missed warnings

Himachal Pradesh needs a policy and governance overhaul that prioritizes environmental sustainability and local communities Article written by Manshi Asher published on 16/07/23 in Hindustan Times As swollen rivers in Himachal Pradesh receded this week, and the state began accounting for the losses suffered, a meme began circulating. Barsaton mein pahad ghumne na aayen, kyunki […]

‘WITHDRAW DRAFT EIA NOTIFICATION 2020’: 50+ organisations, environmentalists from Himalayan region write to Environment Ministry

Amending environmental norms will accelerate ecological crisis in the Himalayas ‘WITHDRAW DRAFT EIA NOTIFICATION 2020’: 50+ organisations, environmentalists from Himalayan region write to Environment Ministry More than 50 environmental groups, organisations, eminent ideologues and activists from across various states of the Himalayan region have issued a joint statement titled ‘STOP ACCELERATING ECOSYSTEMS DISTRESS IN THE […]

Press Note 4 March 2020: Forest-Land-Rivers and Tribal Identity: A two-day dialogue: People’s organisations from Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur call for tribal unity

Press Note 4 March 2020: Forest-Land-Rivers and Tribal Identity: A two-day dialogue: People’s organisations from Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur call for tribal unity About 25 representatives of people’s organisations from Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur concluded a two-day dialogue on ‘Forest-Land-Rivers and Tribal Identity’ in Palampur on 3rd March 2020. The meeting which focused on the issues of […]

प्रेस नोट 5 जून 2019: ‘संकट में पहाड़’: विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस पर मीडिया गोष्ठी का आयोजन

5 जून को विश्व पर्यावरण दिवस के उपलक्ष में शिमला प्रेस क्लब और हिमधरा प्रयावार्ण समूह ने मिल कर राजधानी में आधे दिन की मीडिया वर्कशॉप का आयोजन किया. वर्कशॉप में हिमालयी क्षेत्रों में पर्यावरणीय संकट पर गहराई में चर्चा हुयी जिसमें हिमधरा समूह की मांशी आशर और सुमित महर के साथ वरिष्ठ पत्रकार पी […]

पश्चिमी हिमालय में पर्यावरण समावेशी व समुदाय-आधारित पर्यटन स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए कार्यशाला

पश्चिमी हिमालय में पर्यावरण समावेशी व समुदाय-आधारित पर्यटन   स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए कार्यशाला 31 अगस्त से 3 सितम्बर, 2018 संभावना संस्थान, पालमपुर, हिमाचल प्रदेश पृष्ठभूमि भारत में पर्यटन की नीतियाँ पर्यटकों की मांग को केंद्र में रखते हुए और निजी व्यवसायियों के मुनाफे को अधिक से अधिक बढाते जाने के उद्देश्य से बनाई जाती हैं, जिससे […]

There Are Ecological Limits to Growth – Just Look at Himachal Pradesh

As the state’s situation worsens, the only two choices in front of the Himachali people will be mass agitation or mass exodus. Himachal Pradesh is located in the region of the world considered to be the water tower of the Indian subcontinent. But what happens when the high mountains – repositories of snow and thus […]

10 insights on the political ecology of Himachal today

10 insights on the political ecology of Himachal today Manshi Asher and Prakash Bhandari The morning ritual of eagerly scanning the Himachal edition of The Tribune (the only English paper in print that has meaty coverage from the region) has never been so rewarding, offering in one glance, deep clarity on what is going on […]

Protect Our Rivers, Protect Life, A Citizens’ Appeal

March 21, 2018 To, Smt Manisha Nanda Addl. Chief Secy. cum Principal Secy. to the Chief Minister (Environment Science & Technology, Information & Public Relation, Tourism & Civil Aviation) Government of Himachal Pradesh Dear Mam, We are writing to you on the Day of Action for Rivers across the world on behalf of the concerned […]

Dried and Dusted: A state of the rivers report for Himachal

Himachal Pradesh a mountain state in Indian Himalaya, covering an area of over fifty five thousand square kilometres, has 5 major river basins Satluj, Ravi, Beas, Chenab and Yamuna. Yamuna crosses only the south-eastern border of the state, and but its tributaries originating in Himachal include Giri and Tons which form a part of the […]