The 360° UPSC Debate| Himalayan States: Environmental concerns vs development

Argument 1-Development cannot come at the cost of environment

“There exist approximately 70 ongoing or planned projects along the Ganga river which is characterised as “bumper to bumper development”

The frightening footage of the latest disaster in Himalayan states shows multi-storey buildings crashing into the river like a deck of cards, and cars, bridges, and buildings being sucked into a powerful vortex. According to activists, the prevention of these circumstances may have been achieved had the state administration responded to the request to halt construction activities and encroachment on the riverbed. According to scientific experts, the construction of dams on the Ganga river, encroachment on its riverbed, and mining operations in the area are causing significant detrimental effects on the region. According to Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, a significant number of projects lack rigorous studies of their environmental and social impacts.

Mallika Bhanot, member of Ganga Ahvaan, a public forum dedicated to the preservation of the sacred Ganga river, reports that a total of 244 dams are currently under construction along the river’s course. It is worth noting that only three dams were halted following the declaration of a 100-kilometer segment, extending from the glacial source at Gaumukh to Uttarkashi town, as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in December 2012. The opposition from the Uttarakhand government towards the government notification in New Delhi has been highlighted by Bhanot. It is worth noting that this notification was developed after a comprehensive evaluation of the geographical features and with the primary objective of safeguarding human lives in an area susceptible to landslides.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), located in New Delhi, has also established a connection between the disaster and the approach to development used in this unique location. CSE Director-General Sunita Narain raises a pertinent query regarding the consideration given by the Central or state government to the collective ramifications of hydropower projects on the rivers and mountains, given the significant economic significance of energy generating. At present, there exist approximately 70 ongoing or planned projects along the Ganga river, with the objective of producing an estimated 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. The model was characterised as “bumper to bumper development”, wherein projects are undertaken in rapid succession without any gaps in between.

According to Narain, the implementation of diversion channels and reservoirs will have a significant impact on around 80 percent of the Bhagirathi, which is the second head stream of the Ganga river, as well as approximately 65 percent of the Alakananda. In the arid season, extensive sections of the river will experience full desiccation. According to her, these efforts prove to be highly profitable for developers, hence creating significant barriers for tiny environmental groups to effectively express their concerns. There are numerous environmentally friendly alternatives available, such as the use of smoke from burning pine needles to drive turbines for electricity generation, biomass energy, and the implementation of micro hydro plants with a capacity to produce two MW of power. However, firms are not inclined to favour these less lucrative initiatives. According to Narain, the causation of this specific calamity cannot be fully ascribed to climate change. However, it is obvious that there is an observable increase in the occurrence of strong and extreme weather events, particularly characterised by a heavier and more unpredictable monsoon.

The prevailing consensus among scholars is that climate change is mostly attributed to the combustion of fossil fuels and the subsequent release of excessive carbon dioxide into the Earth’s atmosphere. Consequently, it is evident that the present environmental crisis is predominantly caused by human activities. The occurrence of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) in 2021, characterised by the descent of boulders and debris from the mountains, serves as an additional indication that the intricate equilibrium of natural forces has been perturbed. Consequently, the Himalayan States are currently experiencing the consequences of this disruption.

Argument 2-Hydropower boon or Hydropower Curse?

“The inclusion of hydropower in India’s strategic plans is a subject of intense scholarly discourse”

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India, emphasised the significance of dams in his vision for the nation by referring to them as ‘temples of modern India.’ The rivers originating from the Himalayas have served as a significant energy resource for the countries situated along the mountainous regions. According to Maharaj Pandit, a professor specialising in environmental studies at the University of Delhi, an estimated 1,300 hydropower facilities have been constructed or are in the planning stages around the region. India is projected to experience a more rapid growth in energy demand compared to other nations during the next twenty years. It is imperative for global emission reduction endeavours to secure alternative supplies to oil and coal in order to effectively meet the increased demand.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to augment the renewable energy capacity to 450 gigawatts in the next decade. The inclusion of hydropower in India’s strategic plans is a subject of intense scholarly discourse. It is imperative for proponents to address the inherent variability of electricity generated by solar and wind sources. ‘The flexibility holds significant importance for India’s sustainable transition in the green energy sector, stated Harsh Shah, the CEO of IndiGrid, an investment trust supported by KKR & Co. that possesses transmission lines responsible for delivering power from Himalayan power plants. The utilisation of hydroelectric power plays a crucial role in India’s pursuit of achieving its renewable energy objectives. However, the extensive development of infrastructure in geologically unstable mountainous regions has generated significant controversy.

Following a catastrophic flooding event in Uttarakhand in 2013, which resulted in the loss of over 6,000 lives, an investigative committee constituted by the Supreme Court determined that the presence of hydropower dams exacerbated the disaster. Consequently, the committee cautioned against the construction of such dams in environmentally vulnerable regions situated at high altitudes. According to experts, authorities are engaging in a level of manipulation of the natural world that is beyond what is deemed appropriate.

The proportion of hydropower in India’s electricity composition has experienced a decline, decreasing from 23% in the year 2000 to 12% in recent years. This reduction can be attributed to the substantial decrease in the cost of alternative sources, such as solar energy. Critics contend that the impetus for the rapid proliferation of hydropower facilities is not primarily rooted in the pursuit of energy security, but rather in the financial gains they provide for local governments and developers.

The construction of roads has also been a subject of controversy. India is now undertaking the construction of a 500-mile infrastructure initiative referred to as the Char Dham Highway, with the aim of connecting multiple significant Hindu pilgrimage sites located in the Uttarakhand region.

According to official sources, the proposed initiative entails the expansion of small mountainous thoroughfares to approximately 30 feet. This endeavour is anticipated to attract pilgrims and visitors, hence fostering economic advantages. Additionally, it is expected to facilitate convenient military passage to India’s border with China. According to Ravi Chopra, an environmentalist who chaired a commission ordered by the Supreme Court to investigate the project, the act of cutting down trees intensifies existing risks such as landslides. He further stated that the proposal is in opposition to earlier recommendations set by the road ministry, which discourage the construction of expansive highways in hilly regions.

Argument 3-Not only development but fraught geopolitics is also responsible

“A regrettable consequence has been the entanglement of climate and environmental concerns within the complex geopolitical dynamics of the region”

The mountains serve as significant geopolitical boundaries across the globe, with notable examples include the 2,000-mile border between India and China, as well as the Line of Control that separates India and Pakistan in the region of Kashmir. The relationship between these neighbouring nations is characterised by tension, particularly in light of anticipated population and economic expansion, as well as the exacerbating effects of climate change. This is expected to heighten the struggle for shared resources, like water sourced from the Himalayan rivers.

Aditya Valiathan Pillai from the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi expressed that a regrettable consequence has been the entanglement of climate and environmental concerns within the complex geopolitical dynamics of the region. It is imperative for nations to establish a comprehensive, realistic, and non-partisan framework that addresses the long-term challenges pertaining to the survival of civilizations.

An agreement was made by the eight nations in the Himalayan region to collaborate on climate action. However, it is widely argued that the effectiveness of collaboration and information exchange about matters such as river flows is impeded by strategic considerations and a sense of distrust. According to Dipak Gyawali, a former minister of water resources in Nepal, the issue of climate change is often perceived as a distant and abstract menace. According to him the typical politician in the developing regions faces a multitude of immediate and ongoing challenges. The issue of climate change is often perceived as being too distant in the future to be of immediate concern.

Several nations in the Himalayas experience persistent water scarcity. According to data from the World Bank, the United States possesses over 2.3 million gallons of renewable freshwater resources per individual annually. In contrast, China has 528,000 gallons, India has 264,000 gallons, and Pakistan has less than 79,000 gallons of renewable freshwater resources per person. The escalating demand for water to support the expansion of urban areas, agricultural activities, and industrial operations places further pressure on the rivers traversing these politically unstable regions.

Argument 4-If not trade off, then a fine line on development and conservation

“The tourism industry in this particular region is responsible for the generation of around eight million tonnes of garbage annually”

According to Karan Singh, a former Union minister, there is an urgent need for quick regulation of all operations. The presence of a vegetation cover in the surrounding valleys of the glaciers is of utmost importance, as it serves as a protective barrier, effectively mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. According to a report released by Niti Aayog in 2018, a significant concern has been raised regarding the potential depletion of around 60 percent of water sources in the Indian Himalayan area. Therefore, it is imperative to sustain a substantial vegetation cover in the Himalayan region as well. In order to address this matter, it is recommended that the upper stretch of Himalayan valleys be designated as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).

The tourism industry in this particular region is responsible for the generation of around eight million tonnes of garbage annually. In addition to this, there is an annual production of one million tonnes of waste by the metropolitan population. According to projections, the number of tourists visiting the hill States is expected to reach 240 million annually by the year 2025, a significant increase from the recorded figure of 100 million in 2018. Failure to handle the issue of solid waste disposal in a scientific manner may have detrimental consequences for the delicate environment of the Himalayas, which the country cannot afford to bear. Considering the fact that the primary sources of all significant glacial rivers can be traced back to these mountain ranges, it is not arduous to envision the potentially disastrous consequences that may arise.

The influx of visitors will result in not just heightened levels of human waste and pollution stemming from transportation activities, but also an incessant proliferation of hotel construction and the continued endorsement of increasingly large-scale development initiatives. Numerous scholars emphasise the necessity of regulating the sector through a comprehensive scientific evaluation of the specific geographic area. This task may provide challenges, as the tourism industry plays a crucial role in generating essential economic resources for the state. According to government estimates, the average daily expenditure per visitor is approximately $38, a significant portion of which is contributed to the government through the payment of entrance fees for religious sites. However, although the revenue generated from religious and cultural tourism serves as a crucial source of support for numerous individuals, it is imperative to acknowledge that its long-term viability hinges upon the integration of measures that address the susceptibility of the region.

Following the catastrophic Kedarnath floods of 2013, the Supreme Court issued a directive to temporarily suspend hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi river basins. This decision was made in order to conduct a comprehensive evaluation on the potential role of these projects in exacerbating the extent of the damage caused by the floods. In recent years, there has been significant contention surrounding this matter, particularly due to the interdependence between hydroprojects and the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) initiative. In order to preserve the ecological integrity of the river, it is imperative to ensure its unobstructed flow, hence necessitating the removal of hydropower projects as they provide a hindrance.

The committee of experts has made a recommendation to the Court advocating for the cancellation of nearly all hydroelectric projects that have been approved by the Government for development. The proponents of six of these projects have addressed the Court, arguing that they had secured earlier clearances and that abandoning these projects would result in substantial financial losses. Subsequently, the Centre has endeavoured to navigate a delicate balance between preserving portion of these resources while formally recognising the associated environmental implications.

The government has expressed a lack of enthusiasm towards new hydropower projects and is now granting permission for projects that have reached a minimum completion threshold of 50%, taking into consideration the irrecoverable costs incurred thus far. Although similar remarks have been expressed within the legislative body, they are not present in the most recent legal document submitted to the Court. Consequently, there are apprehensions over the extent to which this represents a genuine and enduring commitment to the stated policy. The Himalayan states are not exempt from the requirements of its citizens for dependable electricity supply and infrastructure. In addition to enhancing discussion, it is imperative for power firms and the governing body to foster increased confidence among the local inhabitants of the region. Furthermore, infrastructure expansion must take into consideration the limitations specific to the region.

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