Srinagar, Aug 27: Himachal Pradesh suffered major losses of life, property and livelihoods from extreme rainfall and flooding in July and August 2023. As of August 26, 2023, the death toll from the floods and landslides in the state was 91, with the worst-hit districts being Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, and Kangra.
The floods and landslides have caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, horticulture and other infrastructure in the state. Thousands of hectares of crops, mainly the apple crop, have been destroyed, and many livestock have been killed. The tourism industry has been particularly hard hit. The Himalayan Expressway, which connects Shimla to Chandigarh and the Kalka-Shimla Railway have been damaged in several places. The state government has declared a major disaster in the state.
The floods and landslides have also damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and many people have been left homeless. Many businesses, mainly tourism-related, have been forced to close. The economic losses from the floods and landslides are estimated to be in the billions of rupees. The Uttrakhand state also experienced similar disasters this year.
So, is this a wakeup call for Jammu & Kashmir?
Experts believe that with J&K and Himachal sharing a similar Himalayan eco-system, there are numerous lessons for J&K to learn from this situation. One of the major factors in flash floods in rivers and streams in Himachal was illegal mining, which has hollowed our river beds and weakened the riverbanks. As mountain slopes have been used for big development activities, they have become unstable and are prone to landslides. J&K is facing a similar situation. River mining has assumed serious proportions.
Development activities in mountains often ignore environmental considerations.
Experts Ziraat Times spoke to said that Jammu & Kashmir has several critical areas to focus on, which include better environmental conservation of its rivers and streams, better infrastructure planning, sustainable tourism, erosion control and so on.
“Himachal Pradesh’s experience highlights the importance of well-planned infrastructure so as not to disturb stable mountains. They paid little attention to environment until it was too late. J&K still has the time to get it right, otherwise, in a few years time, there will be recurrent disasters”, said Moin Farooq, a PhD scholar in environmental sustainability.
Climate change factor
Himachal Pradesh receives an average of 1,000 mm of rainfall. However, in July and August 2023, the state received much higher than average rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 2,000 mm of rain. Climate experts say that this was unusual.
“Climate change is also a factor that is contributing to such disasters in Himachal Pradesh. The average temperature in the state has increased by about 1 degree Celsius in the past 50 years, and this is expected to continue in the future. This warming is melting glaciers and snowpack, which is increasing flooding of rivers. J&K is facing the similar situation, yet it is not being taken so seriously”, Naveen Gupta, a climate researcher at Delhi University said.
In Himachal, deforestation has also played a role in increased soil erosion and runoff, which has made flooding more likely.
“Deforestation has been a problem for many years, and it is estimated that over 60% of the state’s forests have been cleared. What has, however, aggravated the situation there is unplanned construction, including in areas that are prone to landslides. This is a wake up call for Jammu & Kashmir, because we are facing similar situations in entire Chenab valley, Kashmir and Jammu’s other regions like Pirpanjal and Bhaderwah-Kistwar belt”, said Ananya Singh, a doctoral student at Jammu University.
In J&K doing enough?
A major environmental advocacy group – Environmental Policy Group (EPG) – which comprises some of Kashmir’s leading environmentalists, scientists and activists has also been calling for the promotion of sustainable tourism practices that limit the ecological footprint and minimize negative impacts on the environment.
EPG experts have also been calling for implementation of effective erosion control measures such as terracing, afforestation, and soil stabilization to prevent landslides and soil erosion during heavy rains. Develop robust disaster management strategies, including early warning systems and emergency response plans, to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.
Based on Himachal’s experience, experts in Kashmir also call to enforce zoning regulations so that protected areas and conservation programs are fully embedded into development programs.
