Himalayan Disasters: A Man-Made Crisis of Flawed Development and Climate Change
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Geography of India (Indian Monsoon, Himalayas, Rivers, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods - GLOFs); Environment (Climate Change, EIA, Carrying Capacity); Disaster Management.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Geography): Important Geophysical phenomena such as floods, landslides etc.; Changes in critical geographical features.
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Disaster Management): Disaster and disaster management; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment; Linkages between development and spread of extremism (can be re-framed as the 'Development vs. Environment' debate).
Essay: The Development vs. Environment debate, Climate Change and its impact.
Key Highlights from the News
Floods and landslides in the Indian Himalayan region are not merely natural disasters but human-made crises, the article argues.
Climate change and flawed development together increase the intensity and frequency of these disasters.
Main human-made causes:
Widespread deforestation.
Unscientific construction of highways, dams, and tunnels.
Development activities, including tourism, without considering the region's carrying capacity.
Climate change is rapidly melting Himalayan glaciers, forming new lakes, creating a new threat called Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).
The Supreme Court has repeatedly observed that development is necessary, but it should not come at the cost of the environment and human lives.
As a solution, Nature-based solutions, involvement of local communities, and strict Environmental Impact Assessments are necessary.
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