Himalaya disasters result of developmental paradigm being pursued in India today

By Shankar Sharma*
Yet another study report on the man made disasters in Himalayas has made serious observations on the kind of developmental paradigm being adopted in the region.
It should not take any rocket science for anyone to take a stand that it is not just Himalayas which need a diligent and careful review of the kind of developmental paradigm being pursued, but the entire country is in dire need of it; especially in eco-sensitive regions such as Western Ghats, other forested areas, coastal areas, river basins, fertile agricultural lands etc. A high GDP growth rate paradigm as being pursued by the state and central governments can only bring more of such disasters all over the country sooner or later.
In the context of multiple disasters striking many parts of the country with ever increasing frequency, it should become clear that our country's developmental approach has not been consistent with the geography, climate and critical needs of our people; nor are we learning from our own recent experiences as well as from other parts of the world.
In addition to such specific reports, there is a critical need for civil society to recommend a sustainable developmental pathway for each state/ region. We can take the opportunity of dynamic state action plans on climate change to make credible recommendations keeping in view such ecological sensitivities, the developmental needs of the locals, and suitable alternative livelihood options etc.
One such efforts was made a few years ago in Karnataka involving about 20 public meetings in different parts of the state inviting comment from all sections of the society. The resultant report, as submitted to the state govt., is as in the PDF file enclosed.
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*Power & Climate Policy Analyst

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