The ongoing wave of flash floods in the Himalayan State has brought back the memories of 2013 Uttarakhand disaster. It has yet again raised questions over the disaster preparedness in the hill State. Perhaps, its time to act
The ongoing heavy rains, caused by cloudbursts, have brought back the dreadful memories of 2013 floods in Uttarakhand. Incessant rains and resultant landslides have lashed Pithoragarh and Chamoli districts in which as many as 39 people are feared dead with many still missing.
In fact, the National Disaster Response Force and Army officials, engaged in relief operations, fear that the toll may rise as several people are still trapped in debris. The next 48 hours promise little respite for the beleaguered districts as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh warnings of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours.
The Himalayan State has been at the receiving end of nature’s fury with alarming frequency. Rampant tourism and scant regard for building laws, besides weak implementation of green regulations have exposed the State to commercial exploitation where environmental concerns are relegated to the back seat.
As compared to the surrounding States such as Himachal Pradesh, where green regulations and laws are comparatively better enforced, Uttarakhand’s worsening ecological conditions are a stark reminder of the rapid decline of the States ability to rein in activities that compromise the delicate balance of nature.
Former Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had rightly observed that the State was unable to stop encroachments on forest and river belts. These belts are expected to act as buffer zones between populated areas and nature, but unfortunately in Uttarakhand, these areas are seen as prime real estate. Climate change conditions have further exacerbated the tough conditions.
The Union Government is making concentrated efforts to ensure climate resilience and as a part of this, the Government has for the first time after independence, allotted Rs100 crore to carry on studies of various aspects of Himalayan ecology in which disaster resilience, disaster prediction and climate resilience studies are being conducted.
Inspite of unfortunate events of 2013, the State could not put together an efficient action plan to prevent further disasters. Unabated construction along the rivers, within floodplains and hillsides has contributed to destruction of forests whereas exponential increase in pilgrimage activity has led to exploitation of natural resources.
The State has not been able to collate enough macro level data with regard to these developments as a result of which strategy for action could not be initiated, thereby paving way for repeated disasters in the devbhoomi, Uttarakhand.
A number of agencies are involved in flood forecast, flood management, disaster relief and mitigation action taken post-disaster relief. Recurring natural disasters in Uttarakhand have shown that the coordination between the different agencies of the Centre and the State leave much to be desired.
For instance, the IMD has a separate mountain weather bulletin that gives alerts days in advance based on Central Water Commission data but unfortunately, there is not enough coordination between the forecast agencies and implementation at the local level. This needs urgent attention so that extreme natural events in the future can be handled in a much more efficient manner, thereby preventing loss of life and property.
Starting 2015, India has started a major programme of monitoring every glacier that is 10 sq km and above in the Himalayas. Apart from ascertaining the availability of water — melting of glaciers feed almost half of the Indian subcontinent — the study also keeps track of glacial lake outburst flood, a phenomenon that had happened in case of bursting of the Chorabari glacier lake, few 100 meters above the Kedarnath temple in 2013, that wiped out the entire Kedarnath township, except the ancient temple, and killed scores of people.
The Indian Space Research Organisation, which monitors glaciers and also the movement of monsoon clouds, has been claiming to put out, in public domain, all its data, but people are facing problems such as lack of power and mobile Internet connectivity can hardly access this data to understand the movement of clouds. This renders the initiative unproductive.
Disaster management agencies do have access to this data at their national and regional headquarters, and hence, they are tasked with warning the relevant State authorities. But given the track record, it is found that most of the activities taken up as part of disaster management are in ‘response’ to the disaster and not something that can qualify as ‘preventive steps’ or ‘mitigation’ action. This needs to be rectified in order to prevent yet another repeat of natural disaster in Uttarakhand.
Proper flood zone mapping, river regulation and avoiding of building of dams in fragile ecosystems besides regulation of construction and tourism can help prevent future disasters. It is time to learn from the lessons taught by nature.