HIMALAYAN PLUNDER DUE TO MAN’S BLUNDER
There is now a great need to control Natural & Biotic Interference
Biodiversity signifies the totality of genes, species and ecosystems in a region. Richness and importance of the Biodiversity of the Himalayas stands apart and the same has been the subject of comprehensive research. Vast and rugged, yet pristine, Himalayas cover an area of over 2500 kms from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh.
Having remarkable biological and cultural wealth, umpteen flowering plants, over 800 tree species and more than one thousand medicinal plants are found in the region.
The North East region alone has 850 bird species and Sikkim accounts for 50 percent of Butterflies found in the whole Indian Sub continent. It also is repository to over 500 exotic orchids, 50 Rhododendrons,104 rivers & rivulets and more than 200 lakes.Tremendous Biodiversity is found in a small area of 7096 Sq. Kms in Sikkim and the tiny state has all five climatic zones from an elevation of 285 metres to 8546 metres.
WHAT IS EXPECTED ?
Aren’t we supposed to ensure adequate protection to such a valuable treasure of Biodiversity and maintain the productive capacity of the EcoSystem, apart from adding to the forest cover and recharge water bodies ?
Fragile Himalayan regions having a plethora of plant & animal biodiversity, traditional knowledge systems and sustainable livelihood practices need consistent attention.The manifest threats from natural calamities and human led unsustainable interferences cannot be ignored also from Seismic threat point of view.There is fervent need to do all that we can, for protection and preservation of Himalayan Ecology and livelihood.
GREED NOT NEED
To satisfy our greed not need, more specifically, adoption of quick fix, short term remedial measures have been playing havoc with mountain ecosystems for a long time.
Natural calamities in Ladakh, J & K (Kishtwar), H.P., Uttarakhand (Kedarnath Cloud Burst), North Bengal (Teesta Overflow & Peculiar Landslides) and Sikkim (Earthquakes, GLOF & Landslides), go on to prove how we ignore onslaughts in the name of development of hydel power plants and Himalayan Tourism and developments of different ‘shades’ in general.
UNWANTED BIOTIC INTERFERENCE
As Himalayas are a young and fragile geological formation, due care has to be taken especially while building roads, bridges, colonies, water supply, hydel power projects etc.
Parameters successful for plain areas should not be applicable to any of the 8 Himalayan states.Threats keep cropping up when we play with nature knowingly and not necessarily out of compulsion. Based on my personal field experience gained in two states, it could be stated that any crack or damage on top of hill becomes a threat to survival of glaciers, rivulets, lakes and rivers. Both push and pull factors ensure unwanted Biotic interference.
Are Calamities Speeding Up Since 1988 ?
It has been observed that natural calamities, basically large scale happenings of adverse nature result from earthquakes, glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods, cloud bursts, landslides and excessive rainfall.Quantum of these has been showing an upward trend since 1988.
We may pinpoint following major episodes briefly prior to analysing nitigrities:
(1) Earthquakes in Sikkim
Recent earthquakes have taken place in July 1988, September 11, 2011 and on the same date and almost same time in the evening in September 2012. First two shook and shattered the state and resulted in a number of casualties (50) and injuries, apart from wide fissures in the State Highways and destruction of vital bridges in three out of the then four Districts. Narrow village roads, footpaths and Jeeps too suffered immensely. The last Earthquake, however, did not lead to any damage.Yet a high degree of alert was maintained in the State for a month. As Sikkim lies in Zone IV and V, earthquakes, low on the Richter scale keep happening.
It may be worthwhile to note that during the Earthquakes of 1988 and 2011, no rescue could be done from evening to next morning for want of electricity. Presently artificial light can be created by the NDRF or SDRF teams, so many lives not only can be saved in darkness but seriously injured can be also quickly identified for transfer to the nearest medical facility.
(2) U.T. OF LADAKH
Though very little rainfall takes place in this newly created & beautiful U.T. (having only 3 Districts), natural calamities have been happening for some time. In recent months, both Cloud bursts and Flash flood incidents have been reported in this era of Global Warming and Climate Change. Some international border areas of Ladakh, in addition, have to also remain on high alert owing to persistent threats from China. Afterall, Galwan battle had taken place herein only six to seven years ago.
In the recent past, Kargil-Leh Highway has been closed more than once and natural calamities too have happened in the vicinity of Kargil. In the same way, a village around Pangong Lake or Pangong Tsu was hit by flash flood. As the population is not dense, impact of any natural event is not noticeable but isolation and remoteness factors also pose other problems. When weather is not congenial for an air lift in an emergency, communication through roads has to be resorted to in Ladakh. Hence, regular maintenance & repair of State and National Highways get primacy.
(3) JAMMU & KASHMIR
Floods of 2014
Generally large spread out floods do not take place in J&K But these had devastated many parts of U.T. in 2014, killing people, devastating houses, Shikaras, Houseboats, markets, vehicles and roads. Tourism suffered badly and for a long duration. In a way, it was an advance warning for natural calamities to take place in future.
Again both 2024 and 2025 have been tough for the U.T. from a natural calamity point of view. During the annual Amarnath Yatra, rain and snow, slippages, as such, pose difficulties to the pilgrims, apart from occasional danger from terrorists.
PAHALGAM
The Pahalgam area of the state has also become vulnerable from physical threats and communication challenges, as the April 22 gruesome incident would reflect. Afterall, for no fault of theirs, 25 Indian tourists and one from Nepal were mercilessly killed by Pakistani terrorists. Names of only a few victims and perpetrators were divulged. What do authorities gain on being tight lipped on such grim happenings, perhaps only they would know. Transparency, however, always pays.
RAMBAN
Ramban District, a crucial location on National Highway 44 terminating at Srinagar is a crucial link of mountains and lakes of Kashmir valley with plain areas of Jammu.
J & K, a Paradise on earth, is also grappling with tremendous to excessive rainfall.One village of Ramban received Cloud Burst or heavy rainfall and hailstorm at 3 a.m. on 19th July which subsequently caused landslides, floods and sweeping of several houses and shops. Many local Nallahs also began overflowing. Five persons lost their lives initially and over 100 people were taken to safe places.
The incident also created a jam of 10 to 12 kms on the N.H.Total ten houses were completely crushed while forty were damaged. Villagers were so scared that sleeping at night was disturbed out of fear of landslides or flood. After such happenings, District administration was on high alert.Truck Drivers going to Srinagar from different parts of country suffered maximum losses as they had to struggle even to get one meal and their important papers and bills were lost or misplaced due to crisis at Ramban.
KISTWAR
Cloud Burst again hit Chosti village in Paddar area of J & K’s Kishtwar District on the eve of 79th Independence Day. According to initial reports, over 65 persons died, more than 100 were injured and 100 plus were reported missing. Unfortunate incident took place during annual Machail Mata pilgrimage, for which Chosti is the interim point, wherein Yatris can park their vehicles prior to resuming their journey on foot. District administration with SDRF and Army swung into action to begin picking up injured and held up, thus supervising rescue operations at the drop of hat.
Survivors recalled that the ill fated site was covered by slush, boulders and uprooted trees. When pilgrims were teeming with chanting, all were swept away. Such was the power of gushing water that muck, stones and uprooted trees appeared in a large area to damage several houses.Those sitting at the Langar (community kitchen), enjoying the beautiful nature and a CRPF camp were swept away. It was learnt from locals that casualties could have been higher but the boulders swept down by the ferocious flood prevented water from entering Chosti village.
More caution will have to be taken by the District administration during Machail Yatra, as 15 to 20 thousand yatris including from outside the state were likely to participate. Biggest challenge is to trace the bodies as many are feared buried under mounds of debris. Continued spell of inclement weather was proving to be a stumbling block in relief & rescue operations.
As if this was not enough, seven persons were killed in Jodh Ghati and Bagra villages of Kathua District in a fresh incident of Cloud burst.While a few houses were flooded,many were damaged together with vehicles.While Ujh river was flowing above danger mark, Railway traffic between Jammu & Kathua was disrupted.
(4) HIMACHAL PRADESH
H.P. is not as infamous as is Uttarakhand in terms of occurence of natural calamities or in regard to quantum of rainfall.The state is also more stable as compared to geological formation of Uttarakhand and Sikkim.Stable and wide approach to Shimla from Chandigarh side is a sight to appreciate.
Three to four Districts of H.P. have come in severe grip of Cloud Burst resulting into death of over 240 persons and estimated loss of Rs 2 thousand Crores.
Tragedies began with Mandi Dist.,followed by remote Kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti Districts, then gradually Kangra was affected owing to overflow of Beas river caused by release of excess water from Pong Dam. Jakhu in Shimla District and Shrikhand area in Kullu District too came under the grip of roaring rivers. Many people died and houses were swept away in such back to back Cloud bursts and floods.
In Kinnaur, a mishap happened when labourers engaged with building a ITBP road became unfortunate victims of a Cloud Burst.Two hundred of them could be rescued while 500 were still trapped.
Interestingly, It was gathered that Cloud burst also happened in the areas, wherein no clouds were witnessed (akin to Ladakh).
In a latest development, since rain has begun playing villain again, eight to nine Districts of the state have been put on alert.
(5) KEDARNATH CLOUD BURST
The Kedarnath shrine is located at the confluence of Mandakini and Saraswati rivers.The largest natural calamity after infamous Tsunami of December 2004 shattered this place from June14 to 18, 2013 when a devastating landslide & flood was ignited by excessive downpour (385 m.m.) or Cloud burst. Excess rain water led to overflow and breaking of embankment of Glacier fed Chorabari Lake.This ferocious development led to over 4000 deaths, killing of animals (mules & ponies) and destruction of roads, footpaths, dwelling units and other properties on a large scale.
Approaches to the temple were all cut off in a confirmed “Rain Prone” area and adjoining rivers also faced high erosion. Not only this, debris from the flood blocked the rivers.
Nonetheless, nothing happened to the main shrine of Lord Shiva in the same way as Jagannath Puri temple gets saved each time a Cyclone or Earthquake hits its vicinity.
In regard to Baba Kedarnath also owing to his supreme divine powers, time tested and highly durable ancient architecture and masonry work of the 1500 year old temple , built by Adi Shankaracharya, vagaries of nature come and go but nothing happens to the World famous seat of Hinduism.
Tragedy struck the shrine area during a very busy travel and pilgrimage season. Also impacted were Gangotri, Yamunotri and Badrinath.This kind of rain and ‘sweep’ not only took Mandakini river valley under its grip but altogether 13 Districts of Uttarakhand faced unimaginable devastation.Other Districts were : Bageshwar, Rudraprayag and Uttarkashi.
Ms Vandana Sharma ‘Diya’ has done a detailed study of Kedarnath tragedy and post calamity Eco conscious development.
REMEDIAL MEASURES
Though a sizable sum of money has been allocated by Central Govt. for relief, restoration and eco development of the complex, it is felt that following Remedial Measures need to be also taken on Priority :
• Sustainable travel and pilgrimage tourism has to take the place of haphazard tourism dominated by middlemen and tour operators (some sitting in Delhi & Dehradun). Such work should be transparent with an element of accountability,
• Aesthetic & well ventilated housing and reasonable accommodation for pilgrims should be arranged in place of unmindful and crammed up, dinzy structures,
• State Government needs to pull up its sleeve in view of setback from such natural calamities. Current casual approach has to go to make way for more responsive administration,
• A serious thought has to be given to take suitable steps for Waste Management. It is likely to improve health of temple employees and hawkers selling things needed by devotees to perform Pooja,
• Preparation of a Disaster Risk Reduction Plan and an Evacuation Plan will be in fitness of things. It will be useful on the eve of Monsoon and help a great deal when unusual and heavy rush of pilgrims is likely to complicate things.
(6) TUNNEL TRAGEDY
This tragedy in Chamoli District led to death of 200 persons on February 7, 2021, inside an under construction tunnel of Tapovan Vishnugarh Hydro Power Project in Chamoli District.Patience, tolerance and perseverance of trapped persons and that of rescuers & medical team not only entered record books but it also set new benchmarks. Rightly it sent shockwaves all over.
(7) EXTREME RAINFALL FROM JUNE 15-17, 2013 IN UTTARAKHAND
Uttarakhand having a population of 10.12 millions (2011 Census) and eight mountain and four plain districts is a pristine but ecologically fragile land, at the same time. Over the last two hundred years, large scale deforestation, construction of dams, roads and dwelling houses etc. have been noticed. It is a disaster prone (earthquake prone) area, figuring both in Zones IV and V.
Land slides, floods, flash floods and forest fires keep happening. It has a large percentage of migrant labourers from Bihar and other states, as also Nepal.
Forecasts & Actual Happening
In view of the past, a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall on June 14, 2013 was made. Subsequently, a forecast on June 15 for similar rainfall from June 16 to 17 and normal rainfall from June 18 to 19 was also made.
According to a comprehensive Study entitled “Uttarakhand : Development and Ecological Sustainability” by Ravi Chopra, extreme rainfall from June 15 to 17, 2013 led to floods and landslides in several places. It was the worst disaster of the newly formed state.
Six thousand persons were either dead or missing. It included pilgrims and tourists from different states. Animals too perished on a large scale. Revenue loss only from tourism was to the extent of Rs 120 Billions during 2013-14 and Rs 200 Billions during 2014-15.
Besides challenges on the vital ecology and livelihood fronts, the state shall have to review its power development policy immediately. Signing of a record number of agreements for hydel power plants has given the state a bad name.
Economic development measures should be such that they maintain the ecological balance and don’t, in any way, aggravate the impact of a natural calamity.
In view of the fact that recent Dharali devastation has led to disappearance of 66 migrant labourers, Sri Chopra has suggested that basic human resource and human conditions of migrant labour from other states and Nepal need special attention.
Early warning systems need to be provided or to be spruced up, if already in place.There also has to be sufficient and fool proof preparedness for any possible disaster, afforestation in fragile zones and reasonable livelihood development.
As regards suggestions for good governance, it is a routined one. It does not cut any ice.
(8) GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOOD IN SIKKIM
A very dangerous event triggered by Glacier Lake Outburst Flood in the basin of fast flowing Teesta river rattled many parts of Sikkim on October 23, 2023. By the time the manpower incharge of Teesta Stage III 1200 MW hydel power project dam at Chungthang Sub Division were alerted, the unprecedented outburst of the river finished half of the dam.Since height of dam was relatively low, water did not enter the town area.
Overflow of South Lhonak Glacial lake located above Mukuthang at an altitude of 15,500 ft. in Mangan District, caused this unthinkable but once anticipated tragedy. This writer had cautioned on a few occasions, concerned the State Department and Ministry of Central Government in the meetings & discussions.There is a North Lhonak lake also which may strike.
About 200 persons, houses, roads & footpaths close to river banks were simply swept away in minutes before people could realise, between Sankalang in Mangan District and Melli in Namchi District. A new arched bridge over Teesta at Singtam too” blew out of winds”. Its effect was also visible in lower portions of the river in North Bengal upto Sevoke.
Two hundred kms area was severely affected but the bountiful Govt.of India spared only a paltry sum of Rs 50 Crores to take care of rescue, relief and compensations.
It raised many pertinent questions from upkeep of ecology angle in the backdrop of continuance and fresh construction of several mega and mini hydel projects in Sikkim, North Bengal, Uttarakhand and H.P.
(9) TEESTA FLOODS & LANDSLIDES IN N.BENGAL & SIKKIM
Whole of Sikkim state is being catered to by N.H.10, only one National Highway since 1975 which passes on both sides of beautiful, yet mighty & calamity- prone Teesta river. An alternative NH (180 kms) on the other bank of Teesta is under “construction” by NHIDCL for over 8 years. No body knows its completion date.Its silver line being- it passes through relatively “stable” areas vis a vis N.H.10.
Darjeeling, a District HQ & Queen of Hill Stations, has five roads leading to it, including a National Highway. Its Toy train from Siliguri having a tag of World Heritage is an additional feature.
On the other hand, Kalimpong District of West Bengal has access to plains in Siliguri and Bagdogra Airport, courtesy two highways, one of which via Lava, is never impacted by vagaries of nature.
Based on my own experience of this tough region for over 35 years, I may say that N.H.10 from Rangpo in Sikkim to Sevoke in North Bengal (over 60 kms out of 112 kms distance to Siliguri) has been “fathered” by at least three road agencies one after another. Without any doubt, it has been a happy hunting ground for landslides and sunk and degraded portions of land of all sorts.
Till 1993, if I recall, it was a narrow road if not an apology to a National Highway. Landslides were manifold and persistent between July and October, when sufficient percolation of water would take place into the steep land mass.Trans-shipment phenomenon, therefore, was all pervading.
ONE ROAD, MANY GUARDIANS
The Border Road Organisation used to look after this stretch in its own planning & narrow perspective. But it used to have Dett.or Detachments at frequent intervals.These would swing into action during a rock fall or bigger sliding of fragile hill sides.This kind of Detachment or presence of Gangmen was completely lacked by West Bengal PWD which took over N.H.10, perhaps in 2012.
WEST BENGAL P.W.D.
Modus operandi of slow and less responsive West Bengal PWD was God forsaken from their “regional office” based in Kalimpong. A couple of times PWD Secretary would not respond even to my telephone calls.Once in Delhi for a meeting, I used Cell phone of his senior to speak to him about the need to improve the bad condition of the highway.
SIKKIM P.W.D.
40 kms of Sikkim portion was handed over to Sikkim PWD for maintenance & minor repairs. But their performance too was below par especially during heavy downpours when shooting stones would come down like bullets from a gun.They lacked necessary trained manpower and machineries, apart from skill, confidence and experience to tackle increased workload, all of a sudden.
NATIONAL HIGHWAY & INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
For the last few years NHIDCL has been sole guardian of the entire 112 kms stretch of road from Gangtok to Siliguri. Apart from introducing upgraded and new machineries, cranes and JCB’s coated with professionalism, their best achievement till date has been construction and commissioning of a Via duck and bye pass at Rangpo.This was inordinately delayed due to non commitment and casual attitude of Government of West Bengal as regards vacation of land in their territory by unauthorised and obstinate settlers.
CHANGED SCENARIO
One feels sorry to state that width of NH10 has increased over the years and trans-shipment of yesteryears has almost gone into oblivion, due to rise and rapid movement of traffic and mushrooming of constructions along the NH.
However, unjustifiable and beyond the carrying capacity pressure also on land has risen manifold.
PRESSURE OF TOURISM
If domestic tourist arrivals (10 lakhs per year, more than SIikkim’s population) add to GDP and Per Capita Income of Rs.7 lakhs 7 thousand & 18 of Sikkim, this comes with a cost. Over exploitation and virtual sacrilege of fragile land mass in many places is playing havoc. One sees challenges in respect of traffic, water supply, electricity, waste management and climate change. If there is land slide in majority of the areas, there are also incidences of sinking zones. Needless to say, insistence on constructions therein also prove fatal.
On top of it, during the current Monsoon season, say since May, Teesta river is in massive spate after many years, thus partially submerging Teesta Bazar township. It may be noted that the main concrete bridge commissioned in 1995 is the fifth one. Its four predecessors have been swept away starting from the thirties of last century.
A steep narrow road from T. Bazar to Darjeeling has also been cut off for more than 6 weeks. It is not only weakening of the hills but loss of substantial livelihood which needs to be addressed on priority.
Not only has the purchasing power of area people been substantially reduced, left over masses also live in a state of perpetual tension on account of changing “mood” of the river. Some don’t even sleep at night like a Lepcha woman at Dikchu.
Incidentally, people living between T. Bazar in West Bengal and Melli on the South Sikkim side and Melli on the W. Bengal side have no “Mai Baap”. People of Teesta Bazar and Melli on the W.Bengal side depend heavily more on tourists and rafting enthusiasts, than on occasional “local” vehicles. And when Teesta river submerges N.H.10 several times, the livelihood of the people goes for a duck. For the last few days N.H.10 has been closed again for the sixth time. It also had to be closed for unhindered Landslide clearance on a sunny day by heavy machinery a few times in the last two months.
To add further insult to the woes of people, suppose river bank in Melli of Sikkim and its counterpart in West Bengal get impacted by Teesta, people of West Bengal get only half of compensation from their State vis a vis what is given by Govt.of Sikkim (Rs.Fifty thousand in Bengal but Rs.1.25 Lakhs in Sikkim)
ACTIVATION OF “DORMANT” SLIDE POINTS
Apart from emergence of fresh Landslide points, old and virtually dormant landslides at Lekobir, Birik and Sirwani have got reactivated. Whereas 5 to 6 layers of Ranrang slide at Mangan have been settled in 1991, the most difficult 9th Mile slide and sinking zone near Ranipool has been set right by application of fresh knowhow and planting of a special grass by BRO.
I vividly remember walking two kms in slush as an I.A.S. Probationer below the Lekobir slide in October,1985 to the then vibrant Teesta Bazar, when Trans-Shipment did not materialise.
When Seti Jhora slide somewhat close to Coronation bridge emerged, say, seven years ago, it would not be worrisome initially, as it was in a hard rock area like Birik slide. A new slide called Selfie Dara near Seti Jhora too poses difficulties off and on. Not only at Seti Jhora but elsewhere too, on the N.H., sufficient width has been created over the years which makes One Way Traffic possible but only during the day. However, risk is yours.
There is no end to saga of landslides when you live in Sikkim or Kalimpong. When the relatively new slide point above Coronation Bridge at Sevoke is controlled and traffic resumes, one should not be surprised if due to sharp erosion of Teesta at 29th Mile, traffic comes to a screeching halt. Some other slide points viz, Gail Khola, Kirney Khola and Bagey Khola too trouble road users anytime during the Monsoon, which has been very heavy so far.
SHALL WE SAY then that an average Sikkimese is perpetually sandwiched between Slide Land and Bengal Land?
(7) DHARALI CALAMITY
A lot has been written, told, telecast, seen and discussed about the massive flash flood in Kheer Ganga river at 1.45 hours in the afternoon of August 5. Flash flood was possibly caused by heavy rainfall at 6,700 feet, seven kms up from Dharali.
Leaving aside picturesque and pristine Dharali village (having attractive two storeyed wooden houses,one reportedly 800 year old), commercial pocket which had mushroomed bereft of any planning having over 30 hotels and homestays, sufficient road and parking space, WAS SWEPT AWAY or damaged beyond repair. Villages of Harshil and Sukki too suffered.When water subsided, logs were not only seen floating in Kheer Ganga and Bhagrathi but these were also seen clearly visible, stuck here and there.
Rummaging for bodies etc through mounds of muck and debri of the height in the range of 20 to 80 feet is a herculean task. It is happening every day. So far only four persons have been reported dead(including two JCB drivers) and 66 are still missing. Their break up being : 25 from Nepal, 13 from Bihar, 8 each from Dharali and U.P.,7 from Rajasthan and 5 from other parts of Uttarakhand. Missing lot includes 8 persons from one family of Nepal.
It is a hope against hope scenario after thirteen days of catastrophe.
There are positive reports that no effort, whatsoever, is being spared by dedicated manpower of the State Government, NDRF, SDRF and para military forces. Daily search is being undertaken with the help of a hand held machine which is supplemented by a battery of trained and experienced Sniffer dogs of the Army.
Dedicated and disaster management trained personnel of SDRF, NDRF, ARMY, ITBP and BRO have taken up a herculean task in an acute hour of crisis. Support from Helicopters is also being taken.Many sorties are being used to take needy and sick to District hospital, Uttarkashi and AIIMS, Dehradun. In addition, doctors and specialists have been deputed to disaster zones. Also additional allocations of Diesel and LPG have been made. It will help both the rescue teams and the common citizen. Pulling LPG Cylinders up the hill by tieing them with ropes is quite a sight.
More or less connectivity to Dharali has been restored and a few irritants on the roads, such as, sinking points, rock blockages and clearance of rubbles and debris have been taken care of.Construction of a 90 feet Bailey bridge by the BRO between Gangnani and Harshil in a record time of 3 days has been one of the most notable achievements.
In a welcome development, a channel has been made on 15th August to release water from an artificial lake formed after the August 5 calamity. Stagnant water could have been dangerous.
VIABLE & WORKABLE SUGGESTIONS
Following MEASURES are required on PRIORITY to take care of threats to Biodiversity & Livelihood.These will concern all eight states and Union Territories :
• People residing along river banks in Uttarkashi, Gangotri, Bhatwari and Maneri shall have to shift to safe locations as advised by State Police.
• In a new development, a few residents themselves have expressed their willingness but they have demanded more financial assistance from Government, which prefers to maintain silence,
• In view of the fragility of the belt, insistence on a fixed width of a highway is not to be supported. Idea should be to have passage not fast passage resulting into accident,
• There should be NO scope for unregulated and unmindful construction of any kind and it should be permitted after proper verification,
• Concern shown towards shortages & hoarding tendencies during a calamity may have to be further encouraged,
• Afforestation as a tool to maintain ecological balance should be propagated and pursued further.It has been a time tested formula,
• For tackling such calamities there has to be a long term plan. Same shall have to be reviewed from time to time by competent people,
• Waste Management is a necessity. Only after segregation, garbage has to be disposed off. These should not be dumped, however, into waterfalls and rivulets.Use of polythenes has to be completely forbidden in hills,
• Preparation of a Disaster Risk Reduction and Evacuation Plan should be necessary. All Government and private stake holders have to involved,
• Last but not the least, the Casual approach of the Government has to be replaced by a proactive, people centric one. For negligence and failures, there has be stringent penalty.
Conclusion
No natural calamity happens in isolation.These are part & parcel of the prevailing environment. Why only mountains of two U.T.s and six states, it has been a devastating scene in Delhi, Gurugram, Dehradun, Patna, Ranchi and Guwahati as well. A few days ago, Rupa river too was in spate in Barbani and Rajpur areas of M.P.
When hill people are screaming, plainsmen are terrified due to the overflow situation. As human beings hold the key, it is also incumbent upon them to wake up and take corrective and viable steps.Or else, generations will come and depart but situation will remain unchanged.
(The author is former Chief Secretary, Sikkim)
