Source: India Today, Uttarakhand Tragedy 2013
A 2021 report by sandrp.in remarked that Himachal recorded a 116% increase in landslide incidents while cloudburst occurrences went up by 121% this monsoon season compared to 2020. There is a rampant and consistent rise in natural disasters in the mountains. The disastrous 2013 Uttarakhand cloudburst is an example that one cannot budge from their mind.
Causes
Under the shroud of development and reckless constructions, major harm is being done to the environment. As per, Renu Lata, a scientist with the G.B. Pant National Research Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, in interaction with Mongabay-India said that climate change and anthropogenic activities are responsible for such massive destruction in Himachal Pradesh.
In states like Uttarakhand, the fragility of topography accompanied by mismanaged land use and reckless anthropological use add to the fury of incessant rains and cloudbursts that have increased over the past couple of years due to climate change.
In 2016, Parliament stated that Uttarakhand has the highest number of unstable zones among north Himalayan states: Himachal Pradesh and Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The geological setting is very adverse and thus it makes the state highly susceptible to intense seismic shaking that causes earthquakes and landslides.
The average mean surface temperature of the state has risen by about 1.6 degrees Celsius in the last century as per, Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Plan (HPSDMP) on climate change. According to the HPSDMP, the patterns of temperature and rainfall are changing in the state and these have increased the frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events, such as riverine and flash floods, drought, avalanche, and cloud bursts, landslides, and forest fires.
Kapil Kajal’s article
Kapil Kajal’s article in Mongabay on Himachal and its constant suffering at the hands of disasters is extremely relevant in this context. It highlights the evident changes in the environment in the state, and quotes environmentalists like Kulbhushan Upmanyu who note that there has been a decrease in the number of rainy days, an increase in the pace of melting glaciers, and how snowfall is only witnessed at places of higher elevation as compared to before.
The massive construction projects in the state also need to be given credit for hampering the ecology. “For instance, till 2014, the length of National Highways in Himachal was 2,196 kilometers. In 2018, the length was increased to 2,642 kilometers. The state roads of 4,312 kilometers in length have also been approved as new national highways. A majority of the already constructed national highways are also undergoing reconstruction or widening.”
To add to this, there have been continuous power projects under the swing. Kapil Kajal quotes a report by Himdhara Collective where approximately in Himachal itself a total of 813 large, medium, and small projects and micro-hydel power plants. The state already has 10,264 megawatts (MW) worth of projects in place.
Threat on the Himalayas
As per the report, Himachal Pradesh plans to harness a total of 27,436 MW and, of that, 24,000 MW of power planned from five major river basins of the state namely Satluj, Chenab, and Ravi, Beas, and the Yamuna. This might seem to be a very developmentally aspirational act but whence seen in terms of geography, one might be able to understand the threat that it poses.
Source: The Third Pole
The mountains at Himachal Pradesh are rather young in terms of formation. Young mountains are fragile and not as hard. Therefore intense weathering due to cutting, terracing, etc. are making them more prone to landslides. A lot of forested areas have been gotten rid of for non-forest activities. This facade of “developing at any cost” has caused more damage than anything.
Beauty of Himalayas
Himachal and Uttarakhand are undoubtedly beautiful and there’s no questioning that, and the majority of these states have been cashing on this. Hyper-promotion of regions to attract as many tourists as possible and therefore constructing roads and hotels to capitalize on that is very detrimental in the long run. Beauty is at its best when untouched.
Furbishing and ornamenting natural places at the cost of nature is not only putting the lives of the locals in danger but also a big threat to the environment as soaring temperatures cause glaciers to melt that have an impact on the entire globe.
Source: Personal, Himachal
Tourism in Uttarakhand
Similarly, Uttarakhand’s economy is majorly based on tourism. To cater to that- deforestation, mindless construction of hotels and lodges on river edges, widening of narrow lanes, etc. is being done on a ginormous scale. These activities are cutting right into the feet of the delicate slopes of the state, which adds to the destabilizing process and exposes the state to nature’s fury.
Since Uttarakhand is also a part of the Himalayas they are young and thus, tectonic activities like thrusts, faults, and plate collisions are very common here, making the region very unstable and sensitive.
Himachal, as had been said before, has been undergoing construction continuously, tunnel projects have been caving mountains. Several lane-road projects have been burdening the mountains even more. A tunnel had collapsed while it was under construction in 2021, near Pancha Nala in Garsa valley of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu were 4 workers had lost their lives.
What can be done?
Under the given circumstances, it is important to realize the importance of sustainable development while keeping note of the topography and geography of these places. The state needs to control the inflow of tourists each year, by only allowing a certain number of visitors in a stipulated time.
Conclusion
An analysis of reckless construction activities should be done and reconsideration of the same should be done. It is important to carve out a strategic plan to avoid any more environmental damage. We need to reassess our priorities. Development is important but at what cost, at the cost of our lives?
Written by Ananya Verma
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