Editorial: Protect fragile Himalayan region

The indiscriminate exploitation of the fragile Himalayan region in the name of development projects has extracted a heavy price in terms of environmental damage. A string of hydroelectric and road projects in the Himalayan States, particularly in Uttarakhand, involving large-scale hill cutting and change in the land-use pattern, has already resulted in the fragmentation of […]

The indiscriminate exploitation of the fragile Himalayan region in the name of development projects has extracted a heavy price in terms of environmental damage. A string of hydroelectric and road projects in the Himalayan States, particularly in Uttarakhand, involving large-scale hill cutting and change in the land-use pattern, has already resulted in the fragmentation of natural systems. Against this backdrop, the recent decision of the Union ministries of Environment, Power and Jal Shakti to approve the construction of seven hydel projects on the Ganga and its tributaries in Uttarakhand is bound to raise the hackles of environmentalists. It must be pointed out that the Supreme Court had imposed a moratorium in 2013 on allowing hydroelectric projects in the State prone to extreme weather events. There is a need for rethink on undertaking such projects in view of the potential damage they can cause to the environment. In view of the undeniable impact of climate change, the Himalayan ecology needs to be protected from the unbridled construction activity. Apart from the hydroelectric projects, the Rs 12,000 crore ‘Char Dham’ road, connecting Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath, is causing fresh worries. The Char Dham road has witnessed 25 major landslides this season, forcing the closure of two stretches of roads at Tehri Garwhal for indefinite periods. There are claims that since the commencement of the construction in 2016, there have been at least 200 landslides and the death of close to 200 people due to construction work or landslides.

The government is going ahead with these projects despite warnings by key members of an SC-empowered panel in 2019. The authorities must heed the advice of the experts that the road width must be reduced to contain the adverse environmental impact of the project. There is a need for redrawing the plans, not just for Uttarakhand but for all the Himalayan States, keeping in view the fragile ecology of the region. The cumulative impact of the indiscriminate hydroelectric projects in the region has turned out to be environmentally damaging and unsustainable. Uttarakhand is particularly predisposed to earthquakes, landslides, flash-floods, cloudbursts and avalanches, with the hilly terrain accounting for around 90% of its total geographical region. It has an exceptionally fragile landscape that is susceptible to natural calamities. Several development factors, including deforestation, building of roads and tunnels through mountains, construction of hydropower facilities, tourism-related construction in floodplains and hillslopes and sand mining on riverbeds, have exacerbated the disaster risk and vulnerability in the region. Experts have also been warning that the ‘Char Dham’ project was being fast-tracked without assessing the impact and the carrying capacity of the region. The ever-increasing number of tourists visiting the State is putting pressure on the mountain ecosystem.

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