Mountain people and their response to environment: A study of Darjeeling Himalaya

Environment is the source of life on earth and it not only directs but also determines the existence, growth and development of mankind and all its activities. The entire aspect of planning the environment has a social dimension just because man is at the core of the problem. As society developed, man's impact on environment grew in scope and strength. Human interference – due to excessive population growth – is fast extending in Darjeeling Himalaya, leading to degradation of mountain environment. Destruction of the ecosystem is taking place in this Himalayan region despite the population's knowledge of the situation, and this constitutes the particular tragedy of the hills. The Darjeeling Himalaya constitutes a fragile and unique ecological system. The region is frequently plagued by environmental catastrophes. The environmental problems are varied and interlinked and owe their origin to ignorance and lack of integrated approach to socio-economic development based on various considerations of the environment.

This paper attempt to identify the nature of population growth in this mountain region and its impact on environment and their future prospect. The interaction between population and environment is very complex and dynamic. Therefore it is necessary to study the relevant concepts for better understanding of the changing pattern of man-environment relationship. It reveals from the study that the mountain environment of Darjeeling Himalaya is visibly deteriorating at a rapid pace. The trend is now increasingly that of its beautiful blend of mountain vistas, sylvan landscapes and a unique living heritage of beautiful buildings, facades and settings giving way to a sprawling slum of ugly and faceless box like structures, blighted neighborhoods, noisy surroundings, polluted air and water, vehicular congestion, compounded by decay, impoverishment, and day to day hardship. Thus the demographic planning for the region must include both population limitation and migration control, through a combination of socio-economic incentives and legal controls.