NGOs bat for stringent laws to deal with environmental degradation in Himachal
Ravinder Sood
Palampur, August 5
The recent cloudburst, flashfloods and devastation caused by heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh have put a question mark on the environment policy of the state government.
Several social organisations and NGOs such as People’s Voice, Himalaya Niti, Himalaya Bachao Abhiyan and other environmental groups have criticised the state government’s environment policy. These organisations are demanding stringent laws to deal with the large scale environmental degradation, which could help cope up with the natural disasters that have shaken the state.
It seems as if the authorities have not learned any lesson from the devastation caused during the last monsoon. The state has even failed to implement the orders of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for regulating construction activities, particularly on roadsides, riverbeds and high mountains. In last eight days, over 50 persons have lost their lives in the state due to flashfloods, cloudbursts and landslides.
Large scale deforestation, reckless cutting of hills, illegal mining, poor waste management, preservation of forests, biodiversity loss and land/soil degradation have become a matter of concern for residents of the state. Fast growing urbanisation, construction of hotels, resorts, highways and power projects has added more burden to environment.
Himachal falls in the category of top five disaster-prone states of the country in respect of natural hazards like earthquakes, flashfloods triggered by cloudbursts, landslides, avalanches and forest fires. Despite the fact that Himachal falls in seismic zone (V), the ban on high-rise buildings is being flouted.
The lukewarm attitude and irresponsible behaviour of governments and failure to enforce environment laws is the biggest problem here. Despite strong stricture being passed by the NGT and Himachal Pradesh High Court several times, there is no let-up in the illegal construction in the state.
The Town and Country Planning Act, labour laws, environmental laws are constantly flouted by construction companies, hoteliers and industrial groups. Government and law enforcing agencies have become mute spectators and always wait for the courts’ orders to come into action.
In last 10 years, over 20 major cloudbursts and flashfloods have been reported from various parts of the state, wherein property worth Rs 1,000 crore was damaged or washed away. Large scale land erosion and flashfloods have made the lives of people miserable.
Property worth Rs 1,000cr damaged
- Himachal falls in the category of top five disaster-prone states of the country in respect of natural hazards like earthquakes, flashfloods triggered by cloudbursts, landslides, avalanches and forest fires
- In last 10 years, over 20 major cloudbursts and flashfloods have been reported from various parts of the state, wherein property worth Rs 1,000 crore has been damaged or washed away
