Human's unscientific construction
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Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) founder and Padma Shri recipient Dr Anil Joshi said that human actions have exacerbated the damage caused by heavy rains experienced recently in Uttarakhand.
“Human activities have intensified in the State especially in the mountainous regions in the last 15 years which has increased strain on the environment. Unscientific constructions be it roads or buildings have increased the damage as most of the buildings which collapsed were built on the banks almost touching the river whereas this should not have been allowed. Another important factor ignored by the authorities is that the higher the altitude, the greater the ecological sensitivity of the place. So places like Kedarnath should have been kept free of the many constructions and encroachments which were allowed to mushroom around the shrine,” he stressed.
Scientists point out that even before this latest devastation, the condition of the road network in Uttarakhand is deteriorating consistently because roads are being constructed without considering scientific aspects like the geological sensitivity of the young Himalayas and the risk of natural calamities. As a result of the unscientific method of road construction, many landslides in the State occur in areas either adjoining the roads or in areas affected by the construction of roads.
Scientists point out that the damage caused by natural calamities every year in Uttarakhand has raised a big question mark on the methodology followed in the State for construction and development works. The departments and agencies concerned appear to be focusing simply on meeting their kilometre-target in road construction ignoring the threat of natural calamities.
Uttarakhand Space Application Centre (USAC) director Dr MM Kimothi said that a study conducted in 2001 had shown the various areas in Uttarakhand sensitive from the view point of landslide induced floods and other disasters. The disasters experienced recently have been in areas predicted in the study. Unscientific constructions especially of roads is a major factor exacerbating effects of disasters and even abetting landslides, he added.