• UGI USER
  • Oct 04, 2023
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Himalayas are on shaky ground in hill states

Relevance

  • GS 3: Disaster and disaster management.
  • Tags: #himalayas #disasters #vulnerability #mitigation #chardham #joshimath #himachal.

Why in the news?

Because of the growing concern about the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to natural disasters and climate change.

  • This is due to a number of factors, including Unsustainable development practices, such as deforestation, mining, and construction of dams and roads, which weaken the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
  • The region’s high seismic activity, which is exacerbated by climate change.
  • The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and landslides.

These factors are putting a heavy toll on the Himalayan region, resulting in landslides, floods, and other disasters that are displacing people, damaging infrastructure, and threatening livelihoods.

Himalayas: A Disaster Story

  • The vulnerability of hill regions in India in the monsoon season has been exposed, with specific instances in Joshimath and Himachal Pradesh.
  • In Joshimath, the town has been facing structural issues, exacerbated by government-initiated road widening projects like the Chardham Project at its base without adequate preventive measures.
  • Himachal Pradesh also experienced devastating landslides, flooding, and town destruction, echoing the challenges seen in Uttarakhand.
  • The Himachal government even filed a case against the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) due to the extensive landslides caused by road widening.
  • The primary contributors to these disasters are reckless tourism, extensive road construction, and hydro-projects that have disrupted the natural landscape.

Development Concerns 

  • Unplanned and environmentally damaging projects continue to come up in the region.
  • Himachal witnessed over 1,200 landslides during the monsoon season, causing road blockages, reminiscent of the issues in the Chardham project in Uttarakhand.
  • It highlights the need for addressing climate change and its impacts beyond just considering it as a rise in temperature.
  • A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) called for a study of the carrying capacity of heavily burdened hilly regions., which a bench led by Chief Justice Chandrachud has acknowledged.
  • Ironically, in 2021, Justice Chandrachud’s bench approved the widening of roads to a 12-metre tarred surface in the Chardham project, enabling significant hill cutting.
  • A Supreme Court-constituted high-powered committee (HPC) stated the Chardhams had reached their carrying capacities.
  • Even for defense mobility, the HPC chairman and a minority recommended a 5.5-meter wide disaster-resilient road, highlighting the risks of extensive hill cutting.
  • Petitioners warned against the blanket widening of the entire 900 km stretch in a PIL five years ago, predicting that it would make the area prone to landslides and disasters.

Environmental Consequences

  • Hill-cutting led to over 200 landslides.
  • The disposal of muck into rivers raised riverbeds and caused floods.
  • Currently, the Gangotri stretch, designated an eco sensitive zone, remains largely unaffected by road expansion and has not encountered landslides.
  • This challenges the idea that landslides are unrelated to road expansion.

Divergent Visions in Himalayas

  • Difference of Opinions between one group favouring tourist-packed, concretized Himalayas and the other favouring a quieter, stable, and eco-friendly approach with preserved local culture and regulated tourism.
  • The 1st opinion disregards environmental concerns and the impact of “Global Boiling” (climate change).
  • Decision-making committees often comprise bureaucrats, as seen in the Chardham project, leading to disagreements between independent members and state officials.
  • The review against Justice Chandrachud’s decision on road widening in the Chardham project is still pending, offering an opportunity for rectifications.
  • Suggestions include repurposing excessively widened areas for native tree plantation and pilgrim footpaths while preserving uncut slopes.

Environmental Preservation and Development: A Balancing Act

  • The article highlights the inconsistency of policies that simultaneously destroy the environment while advocating for sustainability.
  • Large-scale destruction and carrying-capacity studies are incompatible.
  • Destabilising the environment and prioritising national security are contradictory goals.

Way Forward

  • Chaos in decision-making leads to unpredictable consequences, emphasising the need for responsible and sustainable development in hill regions.
  • Sustainable development should prioritise environmental preservation, cultural heritage, and regulated tourism over unchecked expansion and destruction.

 

What is the Chardham Project?

The Chardham Project is a significant infrastructure development initiative in India aimed at improving connectivity to four prominent Hindu pilgrimage sites in the state of Uttarakhand. The project aims to enhance transportation infrastructure and make these pilgrimage destinations more accessible to devotees and tourists.

Key highlights of the Chardham Project

  • Pilgrimage Sites: The Chardham Yatra consists of four sacred Hindu shrines: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, all located in the Uttarakhand Himalayas.
  • Road Widening: A major component of the project involves widening the existing roads that lead to these shrines to make them suitable for all-weather travel. The road widening is intended to facilitate easier access for pilgrims and tourists.
  • Construction of New Roads: In addition to widening existing roads, the project also includes the construction of new roads and bridges in the region to improve connectivity.
  • Safety Measures: The project aims to implement safety measures and disaster resilience strategies, considering the region’s susceptibility to natural disasters such as landslides and flash floods.
  • Tourism Promotion: The Chardham Project is expected to boost tourism in Uttarakhand by making these pilgrimage sites more accessible and attracting a larger number of tourists.
  • Economic Benefits: Improved infrastructure is expected to have positive economic impacts on the local communities by generating employment opportunities and promoting tourism-related businesses.
  • Environmental Concerns: The project has raised concerns about its environmental impact, including deforestation, hill cutting, and potential harm to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
  • Controversies: The Chardham Project has faced legal challenges and controversies, with concerns raised about its potential adverse effects on the environment and the fragile Himalayan region.
  • Government Investment: The Indian government has allocated significant funds for the Chardham Project to ensure its successful implementation.
  • Completion Timeline: The project has been divided into phases, with the goal of completing the infrastructure development to the four pilgrimage sites over a specific timeframe.

What is the issue with Joshimath?

In recent years, Joshimath has been experiencing land subsidence, which is the sinking of the ground. This has led to the formation of cracks in buildings and roads, and has raised concerns about the safety of the town’s residents.

Key highlights of the issue

Causes: The causes of the land subsidence in Joshimath are complex and multifaceted. However, some of the key factors that are believed to be contributing to the problem include:

  • Unplanned construction: Joshimath is located on a fragile geological formation, and the unplanned construction of buildings and roads has put a heavy strain on the land.
  • Deforestation: Deforestation has weakened the soil in the Joshimath area, making it more susceptible to erosion and subsidence.
  • Climate change: Climate change is exacerbating the problem of land subsidence in Joshimath by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall and landslides.
  • Impact: The land subsidence in Joshimath is having a significant impact on the town’s residents and infrastructure. Over 600 houses have developed cracks, and several roads have been damaged. This has forced many people to evacuate their homes, and has disrupted the town’s economy.

Response: The Indian government has taken some steps to address the land subsidence in Joshimath, including:

  • Evacuating residents from affected areas: Over 200 families have been evacuated from their homes in Joshimath, and have been provided with temporary accommodation.
  • Demolishing unsafe buildings: The government has demolished several buildings in Joshimath that were deemed to be unsafe.
  • Conducting studies: The government is conducting studies to identify the exact causes of the land subsidence in Joshimath and to develop a long-term solution to the problem.

Experts views: They believe that the government is not doing enough to address the issue. They argue that the government needs to take more stringent measures to control development in the Joshimath area, and to invest in measures to protect the town from the impacts of climate change.

Source: Times of India

Mains Question

Critically examine the factors contributing to the increasing vulnerability of the Himalayan region to natural disasters and climate change, and discuss the measures that need to be taken to mitigate the risks.