30 Oct : Setting up of state councils for climate change and establishment of a Himalayan Sustainable Development Forum under which Chief Ministers of the five hill states would annually meet formed the part of the ‘Shimla Declaration’ on environment, which was issued in Shimla.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal read the 12-point ‘Shimla Declaration’ on which five Himalayan states Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, agreed to work in co-ordination for environment protection and pursuing sustainable growth.
Terming the declaration as ‘historic’, Dhumal said,”It has been prepared at Shimla, which had witnessed many historical agreements including Shimla Pact, negotiations for drawing McMohan line between India and China and also meetings between Mahatama Gandhi and the British empire in the past.”
Besides, Dhumal, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was present on the occasion.
Chief ministers of Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim could not make to the occasion for different reasons, but have promised to work jointly on environmental issues, Dhumal said.
Jammu and Kashmir was represented by its Environment minister Altaf Ahmad, while officials of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim participated in the conclave.