Environmentalists Call for Federal Laws to Protect India’s Mountains and Rivers

Jamshedpur: Environmentalists and social activists of the Steel City have demanded dedicated national legislation to safeguard India’s fragile mountain ranges and river systems. Leading the call at a press conference on Monday, renowned author and environmentalist Dinesh Mishra alleged that indiscriminate mining, unregulated water exploitation, and encroachment are pushing the country’s natural assets toward a point of no return.

National Seminar to Draft Proposed Bills

To address these threats, a two-day national seminar will be held on May 22 and 23, 2026, at the Motilal Nehru Public School (MNPS) auditorium in Jamshedpur. The conference, organized under the patronage of “Waterman” Rajendra Singh and Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy, aims to serve as a legislative workshop.

Experts and researchers from across India will gather to draft two critical pieces of legislation:

1. The Indian Mountains Protection, Conservation, and Promotion Act

2. A comprehensive River Conservation Bill

The finalized drafts will be submitted to the Government of India for consideration in Parliament.

Focus on Ecological Security

MLA Saryu Roy emphasized that the goal is to transform environmental conservation into a “nationwide people’s movement.” He noted that while Articles 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution provide a moral foundation for protection, the current crisis requires focused, enforceable laws with institutional support.

The proposed mountain protection framework identifies the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Aravalli Range, Nilgiri Hills, and Satpura Range as regions under extreme stress from tourism, deforestation, and infrastructure expansion.

Proposed Regulatory Framework

Key recommendations from the draft concept include:

• National Mountain Conservation Authority: A central body to oversee ecological planning and monitoring.

• Zonal Categorization: Dividing mountainous regions into Core Conservation Zones, Regulated Buffer Zones, and Sustainable Use Zones based on disaster vulnerability.

• Community Rights: Ensuring the participation and rights of tribal communities, forest dwellers, and pastoralists in the conservation process.

The seminar marks a significant step in the growing demand for “Ecological Sovereignty,” seeking to protect the natural resources essential for the rights of future generations.