Ranikhet Case Study (1)

8/10/2019 Ranikhet Case Study (1)

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Case Study

Economy & Ecology

The hills of Ranikhet situated in the state of Utranchal a part of Kumaun hills, have a scenic beauty and support many of the species of

flora and fauna, the small rivulets and springs create a splendid environment. The forests also have some of the exotic species of flowers and arange of medicinal plants. The local community lives a simple life dependent on the tourism and the forests for the medicinal plants and other

minor forest products. The biodiversity of Ranikhet is well protected from the external influences and the anthropocentric activities.

The new government plans to encourage tourism sector and related infrastructure growth aimed at economic and industrial development of the

area through promoting Ranikhet as tourist destination and licensing industrial establishments in Ranikhet. Government is proposing to set up

star hotels and travel agencies and granting licenses to manufacturing companies to establish their plants in Ranikhet with the special tax

subsidies for period of years. !ccording to the preliminary estimates it is hoped to achieve approximately "#$ increase in the earning through

creating employment opportunities and improving the local economic standards. Government has invited various large organi%ations to

participate in the pro&ects, and everyone is looking with great expectations.

Q.1 What are the implications of such projects on the ecosystem of the Ranikhet?

Traditional cultures have always lived in harmony with their natural environments. Nature and humankind (prakritiandpurusha) form inseparable parts of thelife support system. This system has five elements: air, water, land, flora and fauna, which are interconnected, interrelated and interdependent. Deteriorationin one element affects the others..

The developmental activities of man such as the construction of high dams, roads, eploration for minerals and mining activity and the !uest for arable landhave to face the challenge of intensified dynamic process, commonly referred to as geographical ha"ards. Natural resources are being eploited in the nameof economic development. #ndira $andhi%s interpretation is that the real conflict is not between environment and development but between the environmentand reckless eploitation by man in the name of efficiency. &e have to live a life according to the rhythm of nature. 'uman inference in natural environmental

conditions often gives these dynamic processes catastrophic proportions, leading to disasters and irreparable damage to the natural balance of theecosystem.

#t is not ust concern about the etinction of the big cats, but concern for all inhabitants and nonliving resources. &e have to stop this undeclared war againstnature. 'uman beings are at the crossroads. *areless application of technology is leading to ecodegradation and pollution+ustainable development is,therefore, a concept of good and sound economic growth that can be maintained indefinitely with damage to the environment. $ood environment generallybegets good economics.


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The words economics% and ecology% have the same root, oikos, which refers to a house. &hile economics deals with financial housekeeping, ecology dealswith environmental housekeeping.

+tudies have shown that the perspectives of ecology are different from those of economics in that the former stresses limits rather than continuous growth,stability rather than continuous development%. The ecosystem is the basic unit which has biotic and abiotic components that form an interrelated,interconnected and interdependent system. The most important characteristic of an ecosystem is that it is dynamic, evolving and autosustainable as long asit remains reasonably undisturbed and there is incoming sunlight. The e!uilibrium of an ecosystem is disturbed by eternal stimuli such as natural cataclysmicchanges and everincreasing human activities dictated by socioeconomic growth. The basic difference is that the socioeconomic system, in contrast, is

hitched only to one species, human beings. #n an ecosystem, different species of plants and animals including human beings and microorganisms form aninteracting system. Thus, the economic process is unidirectional and human beings can only progress forwards. *onflict between the ecosystem and thesocioeconomic system arises from unidirectional and unlimited human wants to meet genuine needs as also greed. This has caused ecological crisis, whichin other words means human eploitation of resources at a greater rate than can be normally regenerated under natural conditions.

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Forest: a Womb.

-assive deforestation in the 'imalayan region is the important factor in ecological degradation. Nonavailability of certain species, decline of fodder and woodresources, loss of the habitat of wildlife, soil erosion, recurrent floods and dryingup springs and seasonal streams and climatic changes are theconse!uences of man%s activity. #t is obvious that there is something wrong with the management of these vital resources.

The deforestation which has taken place due to commercial eploitation of trees for timber, resin, medicinal herbs, etc., the developing of new agriculturalfields, overgra"ing by animals, the coming up of new habitation all have had an adverse affect on the environment and have brought about ecologicalimbalance.

The forest has gone away from the villages. #t is reported that there is a scarcity of fuel, fodder and fruit. -edicinal herbs are going to be etinct. The adverse

affects noticed by us were that due to deforestation in the villages there is watershed failure, which has resulted in both drought and flood conditions, soilerosion, landslides, changes in the microclimate, increase in the silting rate which has caused a rise of the river beds, loss of wildlife, drying up of naturalsprings on which the villagers depend for drinking water.

Forest Fires

orest fires are another cause of the destruction of trees, vegetation, thick layer of humus and animals. The two maor causes of forest fire are:


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a. Intentional fire: The forest is often set on fire by the villagers during the summer season to get a good growth of grass following the rains. The fireburns the debris that is lying on the forest floor and hence the grass is able to grow well in the rainy season. +ometimes it spreads and destroys vasttracts of valuable trees. The forest is also set a fire by the forest department to clear it of dry vegetation in order to avoid the risk of a huge fire. iringis done from top to bottom by cutting firelines at regular intervals to control the fire. /illagers also set fire to pine leaves falling on the surface as theyinhibit the undergrowth.

b. Accidental fire: ire is also caused by man%s carelessness. 0netinguished campfires of trekkers and picnickers, forest labourers throwing awayburning cigarettes, bidis and matchsticks, villagers burning the unwanted material on their fields during summer, throwing away of torches used bytravellers to see their way in the forest at night, and acid applied to increase the yield of resin. This acid may be spilled on the dry needles of a pine

forest, thereby leading to forest fires.

The flow of air in the hills is upwards, which is responsible for huge fires, and a fire may go beyond control if it spreads f rom the bottom of a hill. #t is easilycontrolled if it is from top to bottom. Too much dryness also helps in spreading fires.

Soil: an Anchorage for All1

+oil is our most valuable material heritage, the basis of all terrestrial life. 2s an ecological factor, soil is of great significance, for it affords a medium for theanchorage of plants and a depot for minerals and water.

Normally, soil is constantly generated and enriched when an ecosystem is left undisturbed or minimally disturbed. 'owever, due to loss of vegetal cover, thereis a progressive loss of soil due to erosion, together with attendant conse!uences like landslides and siltation.

Water: Flow of Life

&ater is yet another important element of the life support system. &ater is also the home of a!uatic life. The presence of a!uatic life is an indication of thewellbeing of water. The region receives plenty of rain, but due to deforestation there is a failure of watershed which results in the unchecked flow of waterduring the monsoon to cause a sudden swelling of streams in rivers so that there are floods in the foothills and even in the plains, and droughts in the villageslocated on the slope of the mountain. 2 watershed is a natural drainage area draining off water to a common point which ultimately meets with a river.#ntegrated development of watersheds thus takes care of water, crops, fuel, fodder and livestock with a view to develop the overall economy.

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Impact of Development

Development in the region is the other maor feature of the ecological crisis, which takes different forms such as the coming up of dams, building of roads,tourism development, etc. 3uarrying, mining and blasting operations also give rise to landslides, which not only block traffic on the roads but sometimes formlakes by the temporary blockade of rivers. &hen the water eerts pressure these burst, causing devastating floods, sweeping away roads, bridges,agricultural land.


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The traffic of vehicles alters the composition of vegetation. 4uilding of roadways in the mountain system creates disturbances. This does not mean that roadsin the hills are not important, but they need to be constructed in consonance with the nature of geological formation. The construction of a hill road involvesfelling of eisting protective vegetation, cutting and blasting otherwise stable hill slopes, and the rolling down of the resultant debris which in turn destroysvegetation and causes severe erosion resulting in etensive slope failures. These are often termed as landslides. The phenomenon of landslides is not linkedwith road making alone but also with land use in general.

Tourism

The region is considered to be abundantly suited for tourism since it offers all kinds of attractions to tourists. 2 paradise for anglers and a challenge to hikers.The lush green valleys, emerald meadows, vast icefields have now started showing abrasion due to increasing human activity. Tourism brings a large numberof people together, which leads to marked changes that are detrimental to the ecosystem as a whole. Tourism is found in the form of pilgrim tourism and forpleasure and adventure. To accommodate the large tourist influ, hundreds of new buildings are being constructed every year. The tourist activity has to be inconsonance with the principles of conservation of nature and with the protection of associated resources. 0nplanned development is causing irreparabledamage. The problems of litter, noise, erosion, destruction of fauna and flora have become acute.

Observations

+uggestions which may help in maintaining the ecological balance are: afforestation should be encouraged by planting mied trees, both conifers and broadleaved. -onoculture of trees should be avoided5 on the higher slopes cultivation of agricultural crops should be stopped. #nstead of agriculture, crop treesshould be planted. To stop the overeploitation of the forest by government contractors for resin, medicinal herbs, timber, etc., there should be a total ban oncutting of trees on mountain slopes and in catchment areas. #nstead of big dams, small dams and hydroelectric power stations can be constructed. or a verysmall village a hydroelectric generator can be installed in the water mill. There should be a check on !uarrying, mining and blasting operations. 6fforts shouldbe made to develop more hill stations as tourist centres in the region to avoid the overcrowding of tourists in the wellknown hill stations. 7ilns with filterdevices and higher chimneys should be constructed to minimise the effect on the environment. 2ny sort of development should be in harmony with theenvironment, and renewable resources like ground water and forests should be used at a rate at which they are being replenished by nature

Q. !o you think E"# is necessary? "f yes ho$ $ill you conduct the E"# for the a%oe projects c' (o$ can you use tourism to uplift the

local community $ithout distur%ing the ecology of the place.

6#2 is necessary because 6nvironmental impact assessment (6#2) is an analytical process that systematicallyeamines the 8ossibleenvironmental conse!uences of the implementation of proects, programmesand policies.Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process of assessing the likely environmental Impacts of a proposal andidentifying options tominimize environmental damage. The mainPurpose of EIA is to inform decision makers of the likelyimpacts of aproposal before a ecision is made.EIA provides an opportunity to identify key issues and stakeholders early Inthe life of a proposal so that potentially adverse impacts can be addressedbefore approval decisions are made.!EIA is not a"ay of allo"ing an environmental #veto# on developmentproposals.Environmental considerations may be set aside in favorsof otherconsiderations including economic and other benefits of going ahead.


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$onduct EIA %or Above Pro&ects

9. To establish that before decisions are taken by the competent authority orauthorities to undertake or to authori"e activities that are likely to significantly affect the

environment, the environmental effects of those activities should be taken into account.. To promote the implementation of appropriate procedures in all countriesconsistent with national laws and decisionmaking processes, through which theforegoing goal may be reali"ed.;. To encourage the development of reciprocal procedures for informationechange, notification and consultation between +tates when proposed activities arelikely to have significant transboundary effects on the environment of those +tates.

+tates (including their competent authorities) should not undertake orauthori"e activities without prior consideration, at an early stage, or theirenvironmental effects. &here the etent, nature or location of a proposedactivity is such that it is likely to significantly affect the environment, acomprehensive environmental impact assessment should be undertakenin accordance with the following principles.

The criteria and procedures for determining whether an activity is likely tosignificantly affect the environment and is therefore subect to an 6#2,should be defined clearly by legislation, regulation, or other means, sothat subect activities can be !uickly and surely identified, and 6#2 can beapplied as the activity is being planned.

#n the 6#2 process the relevant significant environmental issues should beidentified and studied. &here appropriate, all efforts should be made toidentify these issues at an early stage in the process.


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2n 6#2 should include, at a minimum:

(a) 2 description of the proposed activity5(b) 2 description of the potentially affected environment, includingspecific information necessary for identifying and assessing theenvironmental effects of the proposed activity5(c) 2 description of practical alternatives, as appropriate5

(d) 2n assessment of the likely or potential environmental impacts ofthe proposed activity and alternatives5 including the direct, indirect,cumulative, shortterm and longterm effects5(e) 2n identification and description of measures available to mitigateadverse environmental impacts of the proposed activity and alternatives,and an assessment of those measures5(f) 2n indication of gaps in knowledge and uncertainties which maybe encountered in compiling the re!uired information5(g) 2n indication of whether the environment of any other +tate orareas beyond national urisdiction is likely to be affected by the proposedactivity or alternatives.

Eco-Tourism

Ranikhet has a rare diversity of flora and fauna. This makes it an ideal area fordeveloping eco'tourism, pro&ects and activities like &ungle safaris, trekking on mountain

and forest trails, nature walks, catch and release angling for (ahaseer and other fishspecies. !ll these activities have to be conducted in a manner that promotes awarenessof environment and helps maintain the fragile ecological balance.

Environmental Impacts of Tourism

Tourism in Ranikhet, while vital for both state finances and people)s livelihood, is

fraught with many implications for both the environment as well as for communitydevelopment.*or instance, the urban pockets particularly along the ma&or pilgrim routes are in utterdecay. (ass tourism contributes to increased pollution load, most of which reaches thevenerated rivers..


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"mpact on natural resources

The increasing in the number of tourists visiting to a particular location increases thepressure on land and water. +and degradation is the most common effect of tourism,particularly in hill resorts

onstruction activities are mushrooming in pilmgrim centres at higher altitudes. -ften such construction does not take into consideration the minimumprecautions needed when building in such environments,and thus becomes vulnerable to disasters.

Tourism intensifies the water crisis. (ost Tourist centres draw huge crowds and thelimited or poor infrastructural facilities collapse under such an onslaught.

n addition, as most of the tourist centres evolved in places with good naturalvegetation, the expansion of areas has meant the degradation of ad&oining green belts.

The demand for fuel wood / the primary fuel for restaurants and dhabas ' is muchhigher during the tourist season, especially in the higher parts of the Ranikhet, leading to

further pressures on the forests.

Solid $aste management and $aste$ater handling

ncreased flow of tourists has direct impacts in terms of increase of waste andwastewater generation. 0astes in tourist centres come from various sources such ashotels, restaurants, temples, etc. 1ince most of the tourist centres are small in si%e, thereis a limited capacity to collect and dispose off wastes in these areas. 2specially invalleys, wastes is usually dumped into the rivers for convenience.. The waste is either strewn all over the place or thrown in rivers, which are now getting polluted atsource.3ry waste poses more threats to environment. *or instance, the polythene bags throwndown the hill cover the roots of trees lining the mountain slope and thereby

preventing water from reaching the roots. The roots gradually die and the trees getuprooted. 4art of the waste that is thrown down the slopes gets carried away with waterand pollutes the streams.

"mpact on local community deelopment

The tourism activities in Ranikhet have affected the lives of the local communities.1ome features of tourism in the state are5


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Lack of linkage of tourism with local or regional production systems: Tourism hasfailed to develop ade6uate linkages with local production systems, and continues toremain a peripheral seasonal appendage to the local economic systems. There are anumber of products and services that can be exchanged by the local communities withthe tourists, such as fruits and nuts, handicrafts, herbal medicines, arts and crafts, musicand theatre, which need to be linked to tourism so that local communities can also

benefit from it.

Lack of retention of benefits from tourism: 0hen linkages with local communities arenot built, there is an increased flow of goods and services away from the state.

High level of seasonality: This is an intrinsic character of tourism in the region and

though there is a scope of expansion of the traveling season, the mechanisms for copingand the limits to dependence on tourism as a contributor to the local economy must

reflect these constraints. 1easonality is also seen as a favourable factor as systemsrecoup, particularly in areas where the carrying capacities are exceeded during thetourist season.

The Way Forward: Strategy for Sustainale Tourism

Tourism is one of the most vital sectors of industry in Uttaranchal, for both the state aswell as the people, and hence it needs to be developed. 7owever, it is essential thatsuch development be based on sustainability of the environment and of communities.!ny strategy for developing tourism needs to change the current situation of highvolumelow'value tourism and to identify the high'value low'volume opportunities.This meansbroad'basing of the tourist profile, both economic and geographic8

proportional decline in environmental threats with increase in number of

discerning tourists8 enlargement of the tourism 9cake: bringing in its wake the potential for greater

6uality based services that the local people can be trained to offer.The tourism activities associated with the tourists on the basis of which the specific

policies and programmes could be drawn are identified as5

Class )ourism* The lass Tourist is better oriented to the range of destinations and is


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more often traveling on a purpose. The lass Tourists range from the culturallyeducated (ass Tourists who have not ventured beyond the identified destination forlack of sufficient information, to tourists exploring the art and culture of the region.

+alue )ourism* !t the apex of our classification is the ;alue Tourist, who is a veteranclimber or trekker, researcher, high'altitude flora and fauna enthusiast who hastraversed his way through the world and is almost romantic about the 7imalayas. The

;alue Tourist needs no persuasion from image'makers and advertisers and is willing toreplace anything that is needed in his travel with local material provided they meet thehigh 6uality standards of the tourist. ;alue Tourists are travelers who completely

merge with the 7imalayan identity and are extremely conscious of the risks to the localecology and culture.

Tourism, with careful forethought and planning, can thus fulfill its potential of being a

high value revenue earner for both the state and the people of Uttaranchal, withoutcausing environmental destruction.

Q., Setting up of manufacturing plants to %ring deelopment is right strategy? Comment.

+etting up manufacturing plant to bring developmentprovide all the essential as well as luurious modern amenities. Their role inimproving life styles and standards ofhuman societies cannot be denied. -anufacturing facilitieshavebecome indispensable component of themodern age. 'owever, ithave adverselyaffected andchanged the environment e.g.

9.


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The region has plenty of water, which can promote the growth of fisheries. 8romote horticulture and smallscale industry in the region, which will provide obopportunities to the local people. 8romote sulabh sauchalayaand biogas plants for recycling biodegradable material. To reduce the pressure of the growingpopulation on natural resources, they should be provided

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Ranikhet Case Study (1)