Friday, 08 July 2022 | Vinod Chamoli | New Tehri
As usual the advent of monsoon in Uttarakhand has brought along disasters with it. This time, there have been a number of incidents in which boulders falling from mountains have crushed travelers. Since June 29 till date at least eight persons have died in such mishaps in various parts of the State’s mountainous regions. Experts opine that these incidents may appear to be natural disasters but human activity has a major role in these.
Though monsoons have been associated with landslides and other mishaps in the mountains, such disasters have escalated in the State during the past few years. Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) director MPS Bisht states that several minor seismic tremors have been experienced in Uttarakhand. Such tremors may not wreak major damage immediately but they cause cracks in cliffs and boulders. After some time, such boulders tend to fall down the slope. Such incidents are seen during the rains when water enters the cracks in the rocks. Bisht said that converting gentle slopes into steep slopes increases the possibility of landslides.
HNB Garhwal Central University geography head of department MS Negi opined that the cutting of mountains for road widening should be in angles less than 60 degrees but the cutting for the all-weather road project is being done at 80-90 degrees which has exacerbated the landslide problem.
Noted environmentalist Jagat Singh ‘Jangli’ said that the high Himalaya are very sensitive from the environmental and tectonic aspects apart from being very important from the strategic point of view. The health of the Himalaya will be good only if the interests of the local residents are taken care of. A separate policy for the Himalayan regions is required so that developmental works here are done according to the conditions in the Himalayan region. The condition of the mountains is deteriorating in the name of major developments. The balance between development and destruction will have to be achieved otherwise the existence of humans will be threatened, he said.
Member of the Supreme Court committee on all-weather road, Hemant Dhyani said that cutting of mountains is being undertaken in an unscientific manner for the all-weather road project. The steep gradient at which the mountains are being cut has created many new landslide zones, he said.
