Adverse Effect of urbanisation in States of Jammu and Kashmir and UttaraKhand

(INDIA)

While I am writing this report .Heavy rain is pouring down is here in Varanasi. However,

people are happy .Not inundated like in state of Jammu and Kashmir at the moment. It

appears, that the authorities highly failed to predict the occurrence of such a calamity .In 3

months, the situation of country has drastically changed from the warnings of drought this year

to warnings of flood .Indicative of, how the climate has reacted with two opposite extremes.

Which failed most erudite people in the government .Who predicted the cyclone in the state

West Bengal. .So accurately, that no casualties occurred .However, there was mass exodus and

loss of property. Moreover, there was a similar precedent in Uttarakhand in 2013 .Where

people lost not only their tangible assets like houses, business but also intangible assets like their

relatives, families.

Question to be asked is.

Occurrence of these natural calamities, natural? If, no. How the retrofitting should be done?

Lets begin with a case in state of Uttarakhand. Which I think was warning to massive tragedy.

To understand Uttarakhand calamity, we have to understand. Its location, in the country .It is the

state in northern part of India .Often referred to as the "Land of the gods". Reason being the existence

of many elder temples of Hindus. Uttarakhand is known for its natural beauty of the Himalayas,

Bhabhar and Tera. Wikipedia about the State reports spreads over the 53,484 sq.km. Of which, 93% is

mountainous and 65% is forest [1].

Two largest rivers of India .Yamuna and Ganga originate here in from the glaciers of the Uttarakhand.

Most of the state is covered with Himalayan peak. Now, lets do test of vulnerability of this state to

floods.

Exposure to risk:

Geography: 93% mountainous and 64% forest. Makes this state quite rich in flora and fauna

.However, makes it vulnerable to earthquakes and danger of floods from heavy rain.

Population: With increase in the population of the country .New settlements have emerged .The

government policy to promote tourism in the state .Has given rise new tourism destination in the state.

Susceptibility:

The region is highly susceptible to earthquakes, avalanches and flood

Adaptive Capacity:

Constant rise in infrastructure and business opportunities. With investment of the government and

business friendly policy .Have the Capacity increase?

The point of discussion .Was this Adaptation or Maladaptation?

Answer- Maladaptation: The dimension of Maladaptation was disproportionately burdening the

most vulnerable. And, result of which was flood.

How it happened.

A) Deforestation. Statistics from Indias forest department show that between 2000 and 2010, almost

4,000 hectares of forest land was diverted for mining projects and a further 15,072 hectares of forest

for roads, irrigation, power transmission and hydro power projects.

Image courtesy of Down to Earth

www.downtoearth.org.in

Unsustainable Development:

Mining, which included river bed mining, road building, tunnelling and hydro-power projects played

an effective role in the destruction of the eco-balance in the Uttarakhand.

The companies involved in the process have not adhered to law and guidelines involved in the action.

Which thereby resulted in the destruction of the sea bed.

Rerouting of rivers in through the tunnels cut through the mountain for hydro-electric power

projects .Which left the long stretches of river parched

Dams, The parts of the river were blocked from silt and debris from construction .While the

development routes blocked by new projects .Left no place for the flooded rivers to spread.

Tourism.

Another, cause which lead to this maladaptation .Was the tourism .The over friendly policy

of the government with regards to tourism .Had led to undue pressure upon the infrastructure.

Which also lead to unfettered development of infrastructure in the ecologically fragile area.

Moreover, the waste from the tourism had led to clogging of rivers Thus, no prepared ness to

manage the waste

Such a huge and rapid growth in tourism has led to an increase in tourist accommodation and

Mismanaged Disaster Management Plan:

Even after the warning of heavy rain .The required action were not taken .The imminent

action was required pertaining to the warning of India Meteorological Department., However,

more than 100,000 lives were saved as reported

Now,

On 5 September, the Jhelum River in Srinagar was reported to flow at 22.40 feet (6.83 m) which is 4.40 feet (1.34 m) above the danger mark and at 33 feet (10 m) at Sangam in

Anantnag district which is 12 feet (3.7 m) above the danger mark)

(Reference- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_India_%E2%80%93_Pakistan_floods)

There is huge similarity, between the catastrophe of Jammu and Kashmir and the

catastrophe happened at Uttarakhand .The development blocked the rivers they were

left with place to spread during flood .The encroachment and the development near the

rivers .With no proper management of waste from the developments and tourism (both

are the tourist destinations. Lead to this catastrophes .If taken as two alleles of same

loci. It wont be the exaggeration.

Pertinent Problems:

Road and Rail Network Blocked:

Hospitals break down

Food network disrupted (only possible through copters)

Increase in theft in the vacated areas.

Here, as well. Some initial failure in the disaster management is reported.

The present scenario could have been greatly averted

A) Personal Action B) Internal Governance C) External Governance

The warning were issued and rain had been pouring down for days. Still, people living

at low end areas of Jammu and Kashmir did not adhere to warning .Which is a big

flaw on the personal level.

The local communities did not take this matter seriously as reported by the local

people .Otherwise, they could have asked people to move to safe places.

External Governance has a fault .Even after the warning were issued .No

disaster management team was sent immediately for evacuation. However, after

the flood hit the job is really commendable the way they tried to save every one

of them.

.Flood victims evacuated by boat.

Source: http://tinyurl.com/oppt937

Aerial View of the Buildings submerged in Srinagar on September 9th

Source-http://tinyurl.com/oppt937

As of now,

Over 1,42,000 people rescued in flood-hit Jammu and Kashmir so far

By PTI | 13 Sep, 2014, 03.16PM IST Source-(http://tinyurl.com/pjst4op)

References:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Devastating-floods-in-Jammu-Kashmir-Fears-of-

epidemic-loom-large-rescue-operations-hit-due-to-rain-in-valley/articleshow/42439953.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Jammu-Kashmir-floods-Rain-lashes-valley-rescue-

operations-affected/articleshow/42427862.cms

http://time.com/3341129/satellite-images-show-jammu-kashmir-submerged-underwater-after-

floods/

http://kafila.org/2014/09/12/sailaab-nama-an-insiders-view-of-the-flood-in-kashmir-from-the-

outside-gowhar-fazi/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_India_%E2%80%93_Pakistan_floods

http://floodlist.com/asia/why-uttarakhand-floods

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/over-142000-people-rescued-in-

flood-hit-jammu-and-kashmir-so-far/articleshow/42394796.cms