Uttrakhand flashflood: SC panel says Feb 7 disaster linked to hydel, Char Dham projects
The apex court has granted two weeks time to the Centre to submit a response in the matter.
Share Via Email
| A+A A-
Aerial view shows washed away Tapovan hydel power project plant after Sunday’s glacier burst, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand | PTI
Express News Service
DEHRADUN: Chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee (HPC) to monitor Char Dham Pariyojana (CDP) in Uttarakhand has written to the apex court saying that deforestation, slope cutting, blasting, tunneling, damming of rivers, excessive tourism for hydroelectric projects (HEPs) and widening of around 900 km roads under the CDP responsible for the recent flashflood-like disasters.
India’s Himalayan tragedy is the tip of the iceberg
Tirtho Banerjee Filed on February 17, 2021
This avalanche led to the torrent of river waters which swept away scores of villages and everything that came in its path.
Nature has a way to jolt us whenever we go overboard. The catastrophe in Chamoli district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand on February 7 is a stern warning not only for India, but for the entire world which, if unheeded, would unleash more havoc of greater magnitude.
Theories continue to abound about why the Chamoli disaster in which Rishi Ganga and Dhauliganga rivers went into a spate, killing over 60 people and leaving 170 others missing wreaked massive destruction. Some scientists say that it was caused after a slice of a hanging glacier in Nanda Devi mountain broke off and resulted in ice and rock rolling down. This avalanche led to the torrent of river waters which swept away scores of villages and everything that came in its path. Dr Dan
Updated Feb 10, 2021 | 17:36 IST
Experts say climate change is a possible cause of a glacier burst that caused flash floods in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand this week. The natural disaster has raised questions over development in the area. Rescue operations underway after a house collapsed in Ghat village of Uttarakhand s Chamoli district (File Photo) | Photo Credit: IANS
Key Highlights
Possibility of glacier burst or GLOF as cause of flash floods in Chamoli, Uttarakhand puts spotlight on climate change
Experts say the glacier burst could be a result of decades of temperature changes resulting in unstable glaciers
Imperative to look at developmental projects in the fragile ecosystem in light of natural disaster
Express News Service
RAINI (UTTARAKHAND): Scientists, experts, conservationists and activists have pointed out lacklustre attitude of the governments when it comes to maintaining balance in development activities and environment.
Ajay Gautam, a Delhi-based activist who has filed range of PIL in Uttarakhand High Court requesting strengthening of disaster management systems said, “I had filed one PIL in year 2014 requesting the court to order installation of warning systems including alarm systems. The court had ordered the same in year 2018 but no compliance was done by the state government.”
Ravi Chopra, chairman of Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee (HPC) on 900kms Char Dham Pariyojana connecting four shrines - Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri commenting on the issue said, “In 2014 we had submitted a report warning about hydropower projects…which could result in a major disaster and had recommended cancellation of 23 such projects.”
Uttarakhand floods: ‘Disasters happen when we do something stupid’
An interview with scientist Ravi Chopra about what caused the floods and what lessons are we failing to learn. Rescue operations underway in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand on Monday, February 8. | PTI
“Disasters happen when we do something stupid,” said Dr Ravi Chopra, a scientist and director of People’s Science Institute in Uttarakhand, referring to the floods that struck Chamoli district on the morning of February 7.
Twenty-six people have died and at least 170 people are still missing. Rescue operations are still ongoing as 35 workers of the National Thermal Power Corporation remain trapped in a tunnel. The force of the floods led to the destruction of the Rishiganga Power Project and damaged the Tapovan power plant.