India should take up issue of Tibet plateau degradation: Dalai Lama

Worried over the impact of global warming on the Tibetan Himalayan region, the Dalai Lama today said India which stands to be directly affected by the phenomenon should take up the issue more forcefully.

Noting that all major Indian rivers originate from the Himalayan glacier region, the Tibetan spiritual leader said the country has reason to be more vocal in putting forth concerns on the ecological degradation of the Tibetan plateau.

"I am convinced with every major disaster, that things are turning bad due to global warming. The Tibetan plateau region is ecologically very sensitive and major rivers in north India flow from the Himalayan glaciers in the region.

"You, therefore, have reason to show concerns about the ecology of that region," he said, pointing out that millions of Indians were using the water flowing from the Himalayan glacier.

"This has nothing to do with politics, this is in everybody's interest, including of the Chinese," he said.

The Dalai Lama was speaking at an event to mark the birth centenary of former president R Venkataraman here.

He pointed out that unlike previous administrations in China that were not much concerned about the condition of the plateau region, authorities in recent years have become more sensitive to the ecological conditions of the region.

"Fortunately, the authorities are now making efforts to prevent deforestation in the region," he said.