Himalayan Disasters: 5 Urgent Supreme Court Concerns

Himalayan Disasters: Climate Change, Development & Supreme Court Concerns

The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concern over increasing floods, landslides, and heavy rainfall disasters in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Jammu & Kashmir.

• The Court highlighted indiscriminate deforestation, illegal construction, and unplanned development projects as key factors worsening natural disasters.
• Recently, visuals of tree logs floating in floodwaters were termed by CJI B.R. Gavai as a “very serious issue.”

Key Issues Highlighted:

1. Climate Change & Natural Instability:

• The Himalayas, being the world’s youngest mountain range, are naturally unstable and highly prone to:
  ▪ Landslides
  ▪ Cloudbursts
  ▪ Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
  ▪ Flash floods
• Average temperature in the Himalayas is rising faster than the global average, causing:
  ▪ Reduced snowfall
  ▪ Rapid glacier melting
  ▪ Formation of unstable glacial lakes leading to sudden floods.

2. Human-Induced Factors

• Experts state most disasters are not purely natural but result from climate change + reckless development.
• Unplanned construction of hydropower projects, highways, and tourism infrastructure is destabilizing the region.
• Heavy machinery used for road cutting and tunnel building weakens slopes, increasing landslide risks.
• Deforestation, especially removal of native deodar trees, worsens soil erosion and floods.

About International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

ICIMOD has been actively researching climate and environmental risks in the Himalayas, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, and other natural hazards.

• Recent reports by ICIMOD highlighted that the Himalayan region is warming faster than the global average, leading to rapid glacier melt and rising disaster risks.

About ICIMOD:

• Established: 1983
• Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
• Nature: Regional intergovernmental organization focused on the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
• Member Countries (8):
  ▪ Afghanistan
  ▪ Bangladesh
  ▪ Bhutan
  ▪ China
  ▪ India
  ▪ Myanmar
  ▪ Nepal
  ▪ Pakistan

Mission:
Promote sustainable mountain development and improve living standards of people in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region through research, knowledge sharing, and policy advocacy.

Key Functions of ICIMOD:

Climate Change Monitoring:

• Studies the impact of rising temperatures on glaciers, snow cover, and biodiversity.
• Provides data on glacier retreat and formation of glacial lakes.

Disaster Risk Reduction:

• Research causes and impacts of GLOFs, landslides, and floods.
• Develops early warning systems and strategies to prevent disasters.

Sustainable Livelihoods:

• Promotes eco-tourism, agroforestry, and local entrepreneurship for communities in mountain regions.

Transboundary Cooperation:

• Encourages cooperation between the eight member countries on water resources, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.

Data Sharing and Knowledge Hub:

Acts as a platform for scientific research and policy-making support for the Himalayan region.