Shimla, February 24 Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the signing of two agreements on Tuesday to scale up the cultivation of medicinal plants across the state and released a report outlining strategies to tackle greenhouse gases beyond carbon dioxide.
Titled 'Scientific Assessment of Tackling Non-CO2 Emissions: Pathways for Himachal Pradesh', the report will serve as a roadmap to address Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs) and other non-CO2 emissions, a statement issued here said.
Developed by the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change, in partnership with the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), it establishes a 2019 emissions baseline and models sector-specific pathways through 2047.
Durwood Zaelke, President of IGSD, Washington, emphasized the urgency of targeting "super pollutants", noting that for a Himalayan state like Himachal Pradesh, reducing methane and black carbon offers the fastest climate gains.
State environment secretary Sushil Kumar Singla said that these pollutants not only degrade air quality but also contribute to glacier melt, which, in turn, threatens water security, agriculture, hydropower, and disaster resilience.
Alongside the climate roadmap, the state signed Memorandums of Agreement (MoAs) with Dabur India Limited and noted Ayurvedic practitioner Karan Singh Vaidh in Solan to promote the cultivation and conservation of medicinal plants in the state, it said.
Under the MoA, Dabur India Limited will provide 12 lakh quality saplings annually (one lakh per species) and a total of 1.20 crore saplings over ten years to farmers across the State, in accordance with its ecological suitability.
In low and mid-hill districts such as Una, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, and Sirmaur, species including Amla, Harad, Bahera, Kakadshingi and Lodhra will be distributed. Mid to high-hill regions like Kullu, Chamba, Mandi, and Kinnaur will receive Jatamansi, Kutaki, Sugandhbala, Pushkarmool (herbs), and Padam Kasht (tree).
Alpine species such as Atich and Vish (herbs) will be made available to farmers in the higher reaches of Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba districts.
The second MoA, signed with Vaidh for five years, envisages promoting the cultivation, conservation and value-chain development of selected medicinal plants in Solan district. In the initial phase, at least 225 women farmers will be covered across more than 108 bighas of land.
Six priority species -- Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Chirayita (Swertia chirayita) and Himalayan Gentian (Gentiana kurroo) -- will be cultivated, targeting nearby panchayats.
The chief minister said his government was committed to making Himachal Pradesh the first Green Energy State in the country and has initiated various steps in this direction.
Environmental conservation has been accorded top priority, and several initiatives have been undertaken to preserve the state's pristine environment, he said, adding that the government has set a target of harnessing 200 MW of solar power during the current year.
A one-megawatt Green Hydrogen plant is also being established at Nalagarh in collaboration with Oil India Limited, and the state government is also promoting electric mobility, he said.
Around 300 new e-buses would be inducted into the fleet of Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation (HRTC) by April this year. Moreover, electric vehicles are being deployed across government departments, and a 40 per cent subsidy is being provided to convert 38,000 taxis into e-taxis, he added.
Sukhu said that climate change has posed serious challenges, resulting in unprecedented cloudbursts, flash floods, landslides and shrinking glaciers in the state. He termed these developments as warning signals that demand urgent remedial measures.
He said that Himachal Pradesh was not merely a geographical entity but the soul of the Himalayas. Its glaciers, rivers, forests and mountains define its identity and sustain millions beyond its borders. Any disturbance to the Himalayas would have worse consequences not only for the State but for the entire nation, he said.