Express View on Himachal Pradesh tragedy: A slippery slope

Source– The post is based on the article “Express View on Himachal Pradesh tragedy: A slippery slope” published in “The Indian Express” on 16th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS1- Changes to Geographical phenomenon, GS3- Disaster Management

News– recently cloudbursts and landslides in Himachal Pradesh claimed the lives of 50 people.

What are the reasons behind the recent disaster in Himachal Pradesh?

Floods and landslides are frequent occurrences in the Himalayan region. These youthful mountains are characterised by geological activity. The area has a prolonged history of landslides.

As per the ISRO’s Landslide Atlas of India, all twelve districts in Himachal Pradesh are vulnerable to landslides. However, recent years have witnessed an increase in the instability of the slopes.

According to data from the state’s disaster management records, the number of landslides surged by nearly sixfold between 2020 and 2022.

Climate change and the rise in instances of extreme rainfall events have aggravated the vulnerabilities. Indeed, the average temperature in the Himalayas is increasing at a faster pace compared to the rest of the country.

The ecologically insensitive development has compromised Himachal Pradesh’s ability to withstand adverse weather conditions.

Over the last decade, the state has been widening roads. A total of 69 national highway projects has gained approval during this period. Five of them are designated as four-lane highways.

Road development should consider the ecological vulnerabilities of the area. The road expansion initiatives have neglected to consider the stability of slopes.

Furthermore, there is minimal planning regarding the management of construction debris. The Himachal Pradesh High Court has expressed grave concerns about the “poorly executed construction” of roads within the state.

Early Warning Systems designed to notify people about impending landslides are in their initial stages of development in the country. In Kangra, the EWS failed to effectively alert people about a landslide that occurred in the first week of this month.

Way forward-

Effectively addressing the uncertainties of weather will necessitate significant shifts in approaches and interventions at multiple levels.

The tragic incident in Himachal should serve as a cautionary signal for policymakers against deferring such initiatives.