Mindless development could bring more calamities

Synopsis: Development work in the Himalayas is being carried out without an understanding of its fragility, seismicity, glacial behavior. 

Introduction 

The flash floods due to the burst of an artificial lake inside Nanda Devi Sanctuary is the newest warning given by the Himalayas to the supporters of development. The loss of lives, property, and projects is estimated at more than Rs. 4,000 crore. 

  • According to Planet Labs, ice along with frozen mud and rocks fell down from a high mountain inside the Nanda Devi Sanctuary. 
  • The current winter season has had less rain and snow as a result the effects of chemical weathering were much more active in the higher Himalayas. 
  • Rishi Ganga has seen similar devastations in the past. There was a lake burst in Rishi Ganga in 1968. Another lake burst in Rishi Ganga was seen at the time of the 1970 Alaknanda floods.

How have the developmental activities caused troubles in the Himalayan region?

Development activities have increased the destructive powers of the calamities as less destructive methods, technologies and rules are available but not followed.

  • Firstly, studies have suggested that the pace of climate change is faster in mountains and fastest in the Himalayas. The huge displacement of soil, silt, and stones in the river floor owing to development projects force the raging river to behave differently.
  • Secondly, the projects have been carried out despite the protests by the local people. 
    • People protested against the Vishnu Ganga project, which was devastated in the 2013 floods and rebuilt. 
    • The people of Reni protested against the Rishi Ganga project as they were aware of the river’s flood history. The Supreme Court and the Uttarakhand High Court gave judgments against the construction of dams in the inner Himalayas.
  • Thirdly, a slight error in the monsoon forecast alters the preparedness in the region resulting in a severe calamity.
    • In the 2013 calamity, the India Meteorological Department wrongly announced that the monsoon will reach Uttarakhand by June 27-28. It reached a week before with 300-400 percent more rain. Thus, the death toll and scale of destruction was record-breaking.
  • Fourthly, any hindrance in the river-bed increases the power of the river. In such a situation, water and silt dominate the surrounding and downstream areas. For example, the VishnuPrayag Project was destroyed by the combined power of Khiron Gad and Pushpawati. 
  • Fifth, the assessment of committees is not implemented. The Ravi Chopra committee formed by the SC recommended the closure of all the 24 hydro projects by the Wildlife Institute of India.
    • Moreover, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was a function of independent functionaries. Now this task is assigned to a government agency.

Way forward

Locals do not want to risk their homes, fields, etc. in the name of development. The Himalayas have been giving us life through water, fertile soil, biodiversity, wilderness, and a feel of spirituality. We cannot and should not try to control or dictate the Himalayas.

 

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