Uttarakhand has witnessed another catastrophe in the Himalayan valley after more than seven years. On Sunday morning, a part of the Nanda Devi iceberg broke off triggering flood.

It will take weeks to assess the quatity of heavy damage to property. Even scientists are reportedly worried about the winter disaster. Glaciers usually melt more often than not during hot summers.

However, from global experience, climate change is affecting the Himalayas as well. Studies show that the Himalayan ice sheet has been melting faster than ever over the past two decades. Suffice it to say that with the increase of human’s irrational interventions in nature, the pace of continuous misery has increased exponentially. Lightning floods in the Dhauliganga and Rishiganga tributaries of the Ganges have devastated many villages in the region.

There is no exact estimate of the number of people who may have drowned in the floods. Ten bodies were found in the search by Sunday evening. It is estimated that between 150 and 170 workers may have been affected by the floods. The vast majority of the missing are construction workers involved in the works at two dams on the Rishiganga River. A private hydropower plant was reportedly completely destroyed. NTPC is also constructing a dam here. It also suffered heavy damage. Rescue workers rescued 17 workers trapped in the dam's tunnel. Rescue workers from various forces continued to carry out rescue operations on Monday. NTPC was building the Tapovan Hydroelectric Project at a cost of Rs 3,000 crore. It is reported that it got completely submerged in the floodwaters. The Himalayan Valley, an extremely ecologically sensitive area, has always been a land of natural disasters. The massive flood in June 2013 in Uttarakhand, killed at least 6,000 people. This tragedy during the pilgrimage season caused terrible damage to Kedarnath. The Kedarnath pilgrimage was halted for a long time.

Many dams have been built on rivers originating from the Himalayan mountains. There are new ones emerging every year. Environmentalists have repeatedly warned that not only dams but also roads and mountains which have been drilled for construction works pose a danger. As demand grows as part of development, so does construction. In Uttarakhand alone, thousands of hectares of forest have been cleared in the last two to three decades. Uttarakhand was the first state in the country to form a people's movement for forest conservation. The most notable of these was the Chipco movement led by Sunderlal Bahuguna.

Scientists and environmentalists are expected to find out the real cause of the technical phenomenon that led to Sunday's avalanche and subsequent flash floods in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district. At the same time, anyone with common sense will understand the fact that human intervention, oblivious of the environment, leads to such catastrophes. It is an accepted fact that the country cannot move forward without development plans. And it is important to remember that human interventions in nature should not bruise nature in a big way.

It is natural for more demand to rise in line with population growth. Accordingly, more resources will be required. More farms will be needed. The demand for water will also increase tremendously. We have to depend on nature for all this. In doing so, governments need to be prudent enough not to interfere and upset the balance of nature. Whenever the exploitation of nature becomes intolerable, nature retaliates. Two years ago, Kerala realized this truth through two consecutive floods. Still did anyone learn any lesson from it? At present, a series of protests cutiing across party lines are taking place in connection with the declaration of the Ecologically-sensitive area around the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. The protest is against making the 118 sq. Km around the wildlife sanctuary kilometer area an ecologically sensitive area.

A Wayanad bandh was also organized yesterday demanding the exclusion of populated areas from the category of ecologically sensitive area. The Chief Minister has also written a letter to the Center asking it to amend the Central Notification. The state forest minister has also announced that the central notification will not be implemented in any case.

Gaddy states: "It's very clear he never wrote the thing in the first case, this is a clear diploma-mill-type operation. Gaddy states: "It's very clear he never wrote the thing in the first case, this is a clear diploma-mill-type operation. It took two consecutive floods to convince him that what he said was true. It is another matter that the stubbornness has not abated since then. It is important to understand that every natural disaster is a new reminder.

Earlier, when Gadgil report came out also, there was extensive campaign against it. It may be recalled at this instance.

Gadgil kept constantly reminding us of environmental safety norms that should be followed.
It took two consecutive floods to make people realize the fact that what he said was true. Even after that the people and the government are still adamant.
Every natural calamity is a reminder…just remember that…