Man Made Disaster in Uttarkhand Way back in end of eighties I trekked alone to Gomukh the orgin of Ganga from the glacier. In the gigantic ice mountain there were many shapes and the shape of this one was particularly like the face of cow. Perhaps that was the root of the name. Ganga called Bhagirthi emerged as a timy river from the massive trickling of the glacier. While coming to Gomukh I trekked 18 kilometers on foot and found it a little difficult climb to 14000ft. On the way to glacier was the stopover at Bhojvasa where I rested for the night. There were few people mostly Sadhus trekking and some foreigners too I met on the way. I got strict instructions not to make loud sound when I whistled. I was told it is dangerous as the sound can make glacier move and avalanche may occur. Such is the sensitivity of the eco system of this sacred mountain. I was shocked to see at Bhojvasa that there were no bhoj trees as Bhojpatras were used in the ancient times by Rishis to write their wisdom. Now it was bleak as all trees had been cut for use as firewood by the visitors. On my return I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister about dangerous destruction of environment which was affecting the glacier. I believe some restrictions were placed by the government on movement and tree cutting near the glacier. This highly sensitive regions right from Uttarkashi to Gangotri and Kedarnath was virtually mauled by the greed of man to build on the river banks and to destroy everything original. When even whistling could move the glaciers what would happen to them during moment of tractors and earth digging equipments for forty hydro projects. There is no account of illegal mining. I shudder at the devastation. I wrote a book ‘Mantras for manager- Dialogues with Yeti-‘ long back ,that now is published in Germany, wherein writing about nature I mentioned “ If you destroy nature, nature destroys you. We have to coexist with nature’. It is our respectful, worshipful and benign treatment to nature that returns the same compassion to us. I hold that conquest of nature is the western attitude whereas our spiritual attitude is to live in harmony with nature. We treated the entire Himalayan ecology with scant respect. Instead of making Himalyan policy we need to make our credo to worship Himalaya and promulgate that marked sensitive zones do not have disturbance of any kind, no fuel guzzling vehicles near the glaciers upto at least 50 kilometers, Pilgrims should walk or use mules, no eco disturbing or illegal construction, no littering or mining and no tree felling. Of course no industry like cement plant in upper hills. These do not need committees to deliberate for years but are urgent and immediate measures to be enforced without loss of time. There is need to set up a taskforce to determine which industry can be set up at lower hill or plains. We need to set up World class Hospitals and educational institutes which should be revenue earning for these Himalayan states. Students should flock to calmer climes for studies but provided they get best education and best health facilities. The path of development for Himalayan states hs to be different and distinct from the plains. There is no need to have political fights and blame each other but this is fact that our National Disaster Management has failed to monitor activities, our met has not done sufficient warning like declaring red alert, and our man on the scene the Chief Minister has failed in dynamic response to the tragedy. Now is the time to heal the wounds and reach out to restoration with changed and aware mind rather than repeating same mistakes.
Man Made Disaster in Uttarkhand
ReplyDeleteWay back in end of eighties I trekked alone to Gomukh the orgin of Ganga from the glacier. In the gigantic ice mountain there were many shapes and the shape of this one was particularly like the face of cow. Perhaps that was the root of the name. Ganga called Bhagirthi emerged as a timy river from the massive trickling of the glacier. While coming to Gomukh I trekked 18 kilometers on foot and found it a little difficult climb to 14000ft. On the way to glacier was the stopover at Bhojvasa where I rested for the night. There were few people mostly Sadhus trekking and some foreigners too I met on the way. I got strict instructions not to make loud sound when I whistled. I was told it is dangerous as the sound can make glacier move and avalanche may occur. Such is the sensitivity of the eco system of this sacred mountain. I was shocked to see at Bhojvasa that there were no bhoj trees as Bhojpatras were used in the ancient times by Rishis to write their wisdom. Now it was bleak as all trees had been cut for use as firewood by the visitors. On my return I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister about dangerous destruction of environment which was affecting the glacier. I believe some restrictions were placed by the government on movement and tree cutting near the glacier.
This highly sensitive regions right from Uttarkashi to Gangotri and Kedarnath was virtually mauled by the greed of man to build on the river banks and to destroy everything original. When even whistling could move the glaciers what would happen to them during moment of tractors and earth digging equipments for forty hydro projects. There is no account of illegal mining. I shudder at the devastation. I wrote a book ‘Mantras for manager- Dialogues with Yeti-‘ long back ,that now is published in Germany, wherein writing about nature I mentioned “ If you destroy nature, nature destroys you. We have to coexist with nature’. It is our respectful, worshipful and benign treatment to nature that returns the same compassion to us. I hold that conquest of nature is the western attitude whereas our spiritual attitude is to live in harmony with nature.
We treated the entire Himalayan ecology with scant respect. Instead of making Himalyan policy we need to make our credo to worship Himalaya and promulgate that marked sensitive zones do not have disturbance of any kind, no fuel guzzling vehicles near the glaciers upto at least 50 kilometers, Pilgrims should walk or use mules, no eco disturbing or illegal construction, no littering or mining and no tree felling. Of course no industry like cement plant in upper hills. These do not need committees to deliberate for years but are urgent and immediate measures to be enforced without loss of time.
There is need to set up a taskforce to determine which industry can be set up at lower hill or plains. We need to set up World class Hospitals and educational institutes which should be revenue earning for these Himalayan states. Students should flock to calmer climes for studies but provided they get best education and best health facilities. The path of development for Himalayan states hs to be different and distinct from the plains.
There is no need to have political fights and blame each other but this is fact that our National Disaster Management has failed to monitor activities, our met has not done sufficient warning like declaring red alert, and our man on the scene the Chief Minister has failed in dynamic response to the tragedy. Now is the time to heal the wounds and reach out to restoration with changed and aware mind rather than repeating same mistakes.