Is commerce driving climate crisis?

FLASH floods and landslides have left a trail of death and destruction in the Jammu region within a span of 12 days, throwing up troubling questions that need urgent answers. Of the nearly 140 persons who lost their lives, most were pilgrims. The pathways to the Machail Mata temple in Kishtwar and Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi turned into sites of tragedy.On August 14, a large group of pilgrims, mostly from Jammu region, gathered at a community kitchen in Chosoti, the last motorable village for the Machail Mata Yatra, when a cloudburst triggered a flash flood that brought with it massive slush and boulders. Dozens got trapped. As many as 65 bodies have been recovered so far, while 32 are still missing and feared dead.On August 26, 34 persons died when a landslide struck near Ardhkuwari, en route to the Vaishno Devi shrine, following heavy rainfall.Torrential rains across Jammu triggered flash floods in several districts, including Doda, where four more persons died a couple of days back.Experts say while the Kishtwar incident was a highly localised one, the Vaishno Devi tragedy occurred due to a rare weather phenomenon, coupled with loose soil and rocks in the Trikuta hills. Sonam Lotus, a scientist with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Leh, says, “The Jammu region witnessed interaction between western disturbances and monsoon currents from the Bay of Bengal. Combined, these factors caused very heavy rain.”In Kishtwar, there was intense rainfall within a short duration. “Whenever there is heavy rainfall in mountainous areas, it triggers flash floods in catchment areas,” says Lotus. “The frequency of flash floods has increased. There is a need for immediate action on the ground whenever the IMD issues early warnings like it did this time. Construction in floodplains is another reason why houses are being damaged due to the flooding. In the months of July-August, people should remain on high alert.”The Kishtwar administration and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) have drawn criticism because the IMD and the J&K Disaster Management Authority had issued weather-related alerts well in advance. Despite prior warning, pilgrims were still allowed to proceed.The National Conference-led J&K government and the Congress have sought answers from J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is chairman of the SMVDSB, about the administration’s failure to save lives. Sinha has set up a three-member panel to inquire into the reasons behind the landslide.A statement by SMVDSB said the location where the disaster took place was near Inderprastha Bhojanalaya on the old track. “This is one of the safest locations. However, nature’s fury struck in the form of a sudden severe cloudburst in this stretch of 50 metres, which triggered a massive landslide at 2.40 pm. It was unpredictable and unforeseen. No such event of landslide has ever been recorded in this area,” it said.According to a study by the National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), 24 potential landslides in shooting stone-prone areas were identified by the SMVDSB engineers with the help of NIRM in 2010, both along the old and new pathways. “A topographical survey for 24 slide-prone locations had been carried out by IIT-Kanpur, while geological investigations were conducted by IIT-Roorkee,” the study revealed.However, some experts point towards the increasing human activities in ecologically-fragile areas in the region. Multiple projects have either been completed or are under construction near the Vaishno Devi shrine to cater to the increasing rush of pilgrims. Construction of roads, hydro-power dams and other projects has led to frequent landslides across J&K.Dr Yudhbir Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Geology, University of Jammu, says the recent incidents, specifically the one in Kishtwar, were not random events. “These are a direct consequence of a combination of natural processes and human activities.”Dr Singh, an expert in landslide analysis, says the problem is getting worse because of unplanned construction, deforestation and other factors, which are impacting the fragile ecosystem of mountains.Even Jammu city witnessed nature’s fury, with at least two bridges on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway and one on Tawi river getting damaged due to the flooding of rivers and other streams. Waters of Tawi entered many homes after it crossed the danger mark.Stating that Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and J&K are now prone to glacial lake outburst floods and cloudbursts, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for consultation with experts for risk mitigation.Environmentalists, however, insist that the incidents are a result of haphazard development that is taking place to increase the tourist and pilgrim footfall. Anmol Ohri, founder of NGO Climate Front, says the climate crisis being witnessed in Jammu region is manmade.According to Ohri, the Tawi riverfront beautification project is a major issue of concern as its barrage is 50-metre deep. “The areas that suffered damage in Jammu were close to where the barrage ends. Due to the intensity of the gushing waters of Tawi, it breached residential areas. Ranbir Canal was a saviour as it diverted some water outside the city,” he points out.Ohri laments that the government’s focus is only on economic progress, not on climate-resilient development. “Pilgrimages are being commercialised for profit. There is no focus on the carrying capacity of pilgrimage sites. The infrastructure should be climate-resilient, drainage should be smart, illegal infrastructure should be mapped, so that early warning can be issued in these areas,” he says.The administration alone cannot take the burden of climate change, all stakeholders are equally responsible, Ohri stresses.

Is commerce driving climate crisis?

Arjun Sharma

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