A Resilient Future for Uttarakhand

Context: Recent glacial burst in Uttarakhand showcases the reasons behind vulnerabilities to such disasters and need for long-term crisis response mechanisms and resilience solutions to deal with such disasters.

Reasons for vulnerabilities to disasters: with special focus on Uttarakhand.

• Natural factors:
  • Geographic Location: e.g. Uttarakhand is located in the midst of young and unstable mountains.
  • Climatic conditions: Like intense rainfall.
  • Mass movements: Like erosion, avalanches, landslides etc. 
• Anthropogenic factors:
  • Climate change:  Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment Report (2019) had pointed out that one-third of the Hindu Kush Himalaya’s glaciers would melt by 2100.
  • Rapid and indiscriminate construction activities.
    • Haphazard construction of dams: In 2014, an expert committee led by Dr Ravi Chopra, pointed out the irreversible damages caused by such a construction.
    • Use of explosives in the construction of dams and other infrastructure.
    • Ecological destruction of a region.
  • Large-scale human settlement: Farming, cattle grazing and other anthropogenic activities (leading to deforestation) could destroy the natural barriers that control disasters.

Immediate steps to be taken:

1. Invest in resilience planning: especially in flood prevention and rapid response.
2. Climate proofing the infrastructure: e.g. applying road stabilisation technologies for fragile road networks.
3. Strengthen embankments.
4. Reassess development of hydropower and other public infrastructure.
5. Invest in robust monitoring and early warning system.
6. Establish implementable policies and regulatory guidelines: to restrict detrimental human activities, including responsible eco and religious tourism policies.
7. Invest in training and capacity building: to educate and empower local communities to prevent and manage risks effectively.