Environment and rural development in Darjeeling Himalaya: Issues and concerns

Darjeeling Himalaya suffers from a vicious cycle of development process. Along with a burgeoning population, there has been a constant increase on the area under subsistence crops followed by an increased dependency on livestock farming. Such sequences intensify the demand on the fragile mountain land. Excessive encroachment of forest lands to meet the mushrooming demands for fodder, fuel wood, and other requirements has led to unprecedented damage to forest lands, livestock grazing more than often in this fragile environment has led to overgrazing impacting the environment. Tourism in the area is another factor that has its share in the degradation and pollution of environment in this mountain area. Besides, the physical isolation, economic backwardness, social heterogeneity and unstable politics have a bearing on the social life of the hill folk which is often ventilated through disbelief, frustration and demand for linguistic and political autonomy. This paper attempts to briefly look into the above stated issues and concerns. The paper should not be seen as a problem solving technique; rather it is an attempt to highlight the major environmental and developmental issues in the Himalaya.