New Delhi: The fate of Delhi is tied intimately to that of the Himalayas. The city’s water-needs are met by Himalayan rivers; part of our power requirements too is met by energy harnessed at dams on Himalayan rivers; and the forests form a “sinking point” for the pollution we generate. Social organizations working toward preserving the ecology of the mountains wish Delhi would pitch in. The third Himalaya Day, September 9, was marked in Delhi by a tense gathering of concerned social and environmental activists, who are trying to preserve the ecology, resources and livelihoodpractices of the Himalayan states. It was observed at over 400 centres and recommendations from each of these meetings will be compiled and forwarded to the Prime Minister by the end of this month. Colloquially, these are known as problems of “J a l, J a n g a l, Z a m e e n” – water, forests, land. There is conflict on each front. “The Himalayan states use only 4.4% of the electricity their rivers are being dammed to produce,” says Anil Joshi of Himalaya Environment Studies and Conservation Organization (HESCO). Despite the mountains being a “reservoir for the country,” as Uttarakhand MP, Pradeep Tamta puts it, “the mountain states are dry. People have no water for drinking or irrigation”. Dams, of course, are a contested issue. “In Europe and America, dams are being de-commissioned and here, they’re being built,” says Tamta. Joshi’s HESCO, one of the organizers, has done its bit, both for power and water. The organization works with local communities to preserve the ecology of the area and create livelihood opportunities. Their first batch of projects – HESCO helps with technology upgrading – involved reviving water-mills. “It is an old technology that hill communities developed in the second century. After the big dams came, they fell out of use. We revived and improved them and now about 6,000 villages generate power for grinding flour and other purposes using watermills,” says Joshi. The organization’s special skill lies in reviving old practices or “bringing new wisdom and knowledge” to methods already in use. It has collaborated with outfits as diverse as Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the Indian Army, schools and even governing bodies of major temples, to bring change. With the help of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, HESCO is “recharging” springs. “These villages in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh were dry. Now there is water; there are vegetables and fisheries,” he says. They are currently “treating” 64 springs.