Structural Changes and Developmental Issues in Himalayan Mountain Regions, India

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  • インドのヒマラヤ山岳地域における構造変化と開発問題
  • インド ノ ヒマラヤ サンガク チイキ ニ オケル コウゾウ ヘンカ ト カイハツ モンダイ

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Abstract

<p>This paper intends to clarify the recent structural changes in Himalayan mountain regions under the rapid growth of the Indian economy, focusing on industrial and agricultural development, and to examine developmental issues from the view point of peripheralization and sustainability. Main study areas are the Uttarakhand (UK) state and the Himachal Pradesh (HP) state located in the western part of Indian Himalayas. Both states have suffered from underdevelopment: lack of accessibility, lack of jobs, and outflow of workforce, resulting from the conditions of the mountain regions being less favored.</p><p>However, the states have recently shown the remarkable growth of the economy for which the special attention has been paid in India. Such economic growth of the states in the 2000's has been mainly attributed to the large-scale industrialization because of its favorable location in the Punjab-Delhi Mega-Region. It depends on new industrial policies in the states under the special category status legislated by the government of India. However, there are some differences in the industrial process between the states before 2000. HP was more successful in industrial development than UK which experienced a botched attempt at industrialization in the mountainous areas.</p><p>As for the agricultural development, HP has exhibited a conspicuous trend of growth, especially in apple production which improved the economic condition of mountain farmers. On the other hand, UK has no successful results, though the government has made an effort to develop tea production and appealed an Organic State as a vision.</p><p>What are the main factors contributing to the differences in economic development between two states? The author pointed out three factors: the establishment year of the states, the closeness to the industrial cluster, and the level of urbanization.</p><p>Considering the developmental issues from the view point of the peripheralization and sustainability, it is important to note the significance of water resource development, biodiversity, and the conflict between conservation and tourism.</p><p>We can conclude that both mountain states show increasing conflict in the developmental vision and strategy under the recent economic growth.</p>

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  • GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES

    GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES 73 (3), 164-176, 2018-10-28

    THE JAPANESE SOCIETY FOR GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCES

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