Special Purpose Planning : Hilly Region

Course: Regional Planning and Rural Development (CC-05)

(M.A. Geography, Sem. - 11)
By

Dr. Md. Nazim

Professor, Department of Geography
Patna College, Patna University

Lecture-1
Concept:
The hills pose problems which are peculiar and distinct from the
problems of the plain areas. The hill ecosystem has become fragile.
Increasing pressure of population has caused stresses and strains in
many ways and things are reaching a stage where serious measures are
called for. The terrain besides cultural and socio- economic diversities
call for formulation of altogether different methodology of planning. The
formulation of region specific development strategies for different hill
areas of the country require a detailed information about the social,
economic, political and cultural features, resource endowment ( both
human and physical ), development potential and their particular
problems as a basic pre-condition.
The guiding principles of hill area development programme are based
on the promotion of basic life support system and judicious utilization of
land, water, minerals and biotic resources in a total perspective
(considering the interest of hills and plains both). The whole strategy
should centre on the active participation of the people in the fulfillment
of their basic needs. “Social fencing” implies a voluntary and self-
imposed discipline in managing society’s resources at a local level.
Hilly Region:
The hill areas in India constitute roughly 17% of the country’s
total land area. These areas broadly fall into two categories,
 The areas which are co-extensive with the boundaries of the state
or union territory , and
 Those which form a part of the state.
 The first category includes the state and union territories of
the North eastern region, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh. These are termed as “Special Category States” whose
outlays are met substantially out of central assistance. For the
integrated development of these hill states of the Northern Eastern
Region, the Central Govt. has set up the North Eastern Hill council
in 1971 by an act of parliament. The council takes up schemes of
common interest to more than one state or union territory and to
the region as a whole under its development plan. It has played an
important role in the development of inter-regional programmes of
power generation, construction of roads, agriculture, animal
husbandry, fisheries etc. It also supports research and
experimental projects.

Hilly region forming part of larger composite state occurs in

Assam, Uttrakhand and West Bengal in the sub- Himalayan
 region. These include Karbi Anglong and North Cacher districts of
Assam (15,200 sq.km), Darjeeling district of West Bengal
(2400sq.km) , and Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal,
Chamoli , Uttarkashi, Almora, Pithoragarh and Nainital districts
of Uttrakhand (51,100) sq.km. Other important hill areas extend
over the Western Ghats incorporating 132 Talukas in the states of
Maharashtra, M.P, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala (1,
34,500sqkm). Here, central assistance is provided for development
programmes before the introduction of the concept of sub- plan.

Major Problems:
Deforestation, soil erosion, flood hazard, low productivity,
decreasing forest based products, land-water management and
increasing poverty.

Programmes during Five Year Plans:

5th Five year plan- Starting of sub-plan concept
6th Five year plan – Ecology and development
7th Five year plan – Eco-restoration ,
- Eco-development, Eco-preservation
8th Five year plan- Modern agriculture
Small& cottage industries
Village industries
Land-water resources
People’s participation.

The primary responsibility for the development of these hilly

areas is that of the concerned state govts. The need for central
assistance has, however been felt since the 2nd five year plan. The
central assistance to the Hill Area Development Programme (HADP)
has been further the constituent states giving equal weightage to the
area and population systematized since the 5th five year plan. The
special central assistance (SCA) is being allocated among of the hilly
areas regulated by Gadgill formula.
Gadgil Formula (1969-70): It allocates 60% weightage to population,
10% to per capita income if lower than the national average, 10% on
the basis of ongoing major / medium irrigation projects, 10% on the
basis of tax effort of the state and finally 10% for special / urgent
problems.
Modified Gadgil Formula (1980 : It allocates 60% weightage to
population, 20% on the basis of per capita income if less than 10 – 20%
of the national average, 10% on the basis of tax effort and 10% on the
basis of natural calamity or severe problems.
Planning and Programmes:
The hill area development programmes place adequate emphasis
on exploiting the indigenous resources of the hills through
specially designed programmes for the dev of horticulture
plantations , agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, bee- keeping,
forestry, soil conversation and suitable village industries. The
focus is essentially on a package of activities that could be
absorbed by the local people. The co-operatives or farmer’s
societies has been given great importance.
 Programmes:
 To check erosion and raising the productivity and consolidaton of
landholdings.
 Population control measures – family planning programmes
 To improve various govt. programmes through monitoring of
capital and physical plans
 Afforestation through local self – bodies and others
 Improving agricultural practices through agro- climatic regions,
soil suitability test,
 For Jhumias - special programmes have been launched to-prevent
jhum cultivation and rehabilitate them in settled agricultural
practices. To develop plantation of rubber and coffee and
rehabilitate Jhumias in such plantation agriculture has been
encouraged.
 Animal husbandry/livestock raising has been encouraged in view
of stock of animal, availability and pastures and forest.The
programmes also include scientific breeding approach, strong
protective and curative animal health cover and processing and
marketing of the produce.
 In forestry programmes, production of forestry such as plantation
(coffee, tea, spices etc), agro-forestry and social forestry have been
emphasized.
 In horticulture programme, development of orchards (apple,
grapes and banana) and their marketing have been stressed.
 The hill areas may develop industries which require pollution free
atmosphere, cold climate based on high skills and high value
 addition- electronics, watch makings, optical glass, furniture,
medicines and drugs. Cottage industries like carpet manufacturing
and handlooms are also suitable activities.
 Development of non-conventional sources of energy.
 Developing means of transportation and communication
 Safe quarrying and mining.
 Tourism is one of the most important industries which should be
properly developed
 An integrated strategy has to be made for the presentation of the
valuable flora and fauna through biosphere reserves, national
parks and sanctuaries.
 The need for increasing public awareness about the environmental
issues and to stimulate public participation in the activities for
environmental protection have to be emphasized
 Eco- preservation should be kept in mind while carrying any
activity in hilly areas e.g. a paper project should include the cost
of afforestation and its economic viability has to be determined
accordingly.
 For scientific planning of hilly areas-information about the
available resources-soil, water, minerals, vegetation etc- should be
achieved through RS and GIS.
 Scientific, sustainable and eco-friendly development strategies
have to be adopted in the hilly areas to fetch maximum returns and
bring forth development of the concerned area.

Recommendations:
1. Developmental Zones: The task force recommends that the
balance between the natural resource exploitation
 andconservation should tilt in favour of the latter. Zones must be
identified for appropriate activities such as;
 Zones of snow, alpine, sub-alpine areas and scared landscapes to
be protected to be any cost, for maintaining the flow of vital
ecosystem services and for respecting and preserving religeo-
cultural values,
 All natural water zones (glacier, rivers, lakes and spring) must be
strictly protected. Activities in any of the zones that in any way,
adversely impact should be barred. Areas that harboured natural
springs must be converted “spring sanctuaries” and this concept
should be incorporated in all planning.
 Forest zone should conserve and augmented for environmental
services and biodiversity values. Such zone should also be
available for sustainable bio and NTFP, including bamboo,
prospecting, and for eco- tourism
 Zones for fertile river valleys at lower attitudes should be utilized
maximizing agricultural production but conversion of agricultural
land to other uses in such zones should not be allowed. Areas
where shifting or terraced agriculture is practiced should be
earmarked for unique crops, organic agriculture, horticulture,
agro- forestry, and for introducing better managements practices,
 River zones for decentralized electricity production should be
earmarked to meet the household and small industrial
requirements.

2. Road, rail and air connectivity: The task recommends two loop
railways lines – one for the western Himalayan region connecting
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and the
other for the north- eastern region. These two loops should be
linked to each other through the existing national network of the
north and eastern railway. The road network of IHR must link up
with the rail network at appropriate places for performing the
aforementioned functions. The road network should also be linked
up with air services so as to provide opportunities for perishable
goods and persons needing emergency health to reach the rest of
the country or outside. The task force recommends that every IHR
state should have at least one small air- strip for accepting large
helicopters and short take-off and landing planes.

Other Recommendations:
1. Mountain Perspectives and Sensitisation
2. Education and Skill Development
3. Natural Resource Analysis and Advisory Centre
4. Strategic Environmental Assessment
5. Financial Incentives, Rewards and Relaxations
6. Resource Sharing between IHR States
7. Waterways and Ropeways
8. Waste Management
9. Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
10. Industries
11. Climate Chang
12. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem