The Perilous Char Dham Highway Project

Introduction

• The Char Dham Highway Project, a 900-kilometer, ₹12,000 crore initiative aimed at boosting religious tourism to four shrines in Uttarakhand, has sparked significant environmental concerns.
• Growing scientific evidence suggests this project will have disastrous consequences for the fragile mountain ecology of the Himalayas.
• A recent scientific study led by Jürgen Mey from the University of Potsdam confirms these fears.
• Despite opposition from environmental organizations and experts, the project has progressed, with potentially catastrophic outcomes.

Key Findings from the Study

• The study focused on landslides along the 250 km stretch between Rishikesh and Joshimath, where over 300 landslides occurred after heavy rainfall between September and October 2022.
• Researchers identified 309 landslides along this corridor, averaging 1.25 landslides per kilometer.
• Road widening was identified as a major factor contributing to the increased frequency of landslides.
• This is particularly alarming as it doubles the likelihood of road-blocking landslides in the region.
• The construction, along with improper slope management, has intensified the risks, leading to accidents and fatalities, especially during pilgrimage seasons.

Environmental and Geological Concerns

• The Uttarakhand Himalayas, characterized by steep slopes and sharp gradients, are geologically unstable.
• Massive projects like the Char Dham Highway not only amplify the risk of landslides but also threaten the integrity of the entire ecosystem.
• Climate change predictions suggest an increase in extreme weather events like heavy rainfall, further exacerbating the risk of landslides.
• The project’s execution has largely ignored these factors, with little regard for the region’s environmental and geological constraints.

Government Response and Supreme Court Ruling

• The government has justified the Char Dham Highway as necessary for smoother, faster connectivity for both tourists and military personnel.
• However, the Supreme Court initially recommended a narrower road width of 5.5 meters, based on expert committee recommendations.
• Eventually, the Court allowed road widening on the grounds of national security, although this decision overlooked critical environmental concerns.

Violations and Loopholes

• The project has been marked by violations of environmental norms and regulations.
• The government used a technical loophole, splitting the project into smaller segments to bypass comprehensive environmental impact assessments.
• Activists argue that this approach underestimates the cumulative impact of the project on the region.
• Additionally, practices like blasting, slope cutting, and land encroachment add further stress to the already fragile ecosystem.

Local Impact and Distress

• The environmental degradation is compounded by social and economic problems in Uttarakhand.
• Depopulation has been a persistent issue in the region, with many villages now uninhabited or sparsely populated.
• Migration, both internal and external, is driven by the decline in agriculture, worsened by environmental factors such as dwindling water resources.
• The road widening project, which promotes tourism, has led to the rise of businesses owned by outsiders, often displacing local communities and pushing them into the tourism industry at the expense of traditional livelihoods like farming.

Way Forward

• To address these challenges, the government needs to reconsider its approach to infrastructure development in ecologically fragile regions like the Himalayas.
• While there is a need for better connectivity, massive projects that disregard environmental and geological factors are unsustainable.
• The focus should shift toward more eco-friendly, small-scale interventions that minimize the impact on the region’s biodiversity. Additionally, laws restricting the sale of land to outsiders should be enforced to protect local communities, but they must be accompanied by efforts to revive agriculture and ensure sustainable development.

Conclusion

• The Char Dham Highway Project exemplifies the double standards in India’s environmental policies.
• While the government talks about climate resilience on global platforms, it continues to implement environmentally harmful projects in some of the country’s most delicate ecosystems.
• A more balanced approach that prioritizes ecological preservation over unchecked development is urgently needed to prevent further damage to the Himalayas.

 

 

 

Improving Weather Forecasting in India: Key Insights from ‘Mission Mausam’

Introduction

• India has been facing increasingly severe monsoon seasons, with recurrent flooding affecting many states.
• Studies have shown that nearly 40% of districts in India now experience alternating climatic extremes, such as floods and droughts.
• Over the past decade, heavy rainfall days during the monsoon have increased by up to 64%.
• In light of these challenges, India urgently needs enhanced weather forecasting systems to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events.

Extreme Weather Forecasting Gaps

• Despite the risks, only a third of India’s flood-prone population is covered by early warning systems, which stands in stark contrast to the comprehensive coverage in cyclone-prone areas.
• To address these gaps, the government launched ‘Mission Mausam’ in 2024, aiming to improve weather observation and forecasting.
• With a ₹2,000 crore budget, this initiative seeks to boost the weather observation network and improve forecasting models using machine learning and a better understanding of atmospheric physics.
• It will be implemented by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

Improving Radar Coverage

• India currently operates 39 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs), but coverage is uneven, especially in areas with high climate risks.
• Only five radars monitor the entire western coast, while major cities like Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Jodhpur lack radar coverage, despite their susceptibility to flooding.
• One of the priorities of ‘Mission Mausam’ should be expanding radar coverage in these regions to enhance forecasting accuracy for extreme weather events.

Open Access to Weather Data

• To fully leverage advancements in weather forecasting, it is essential to make weather data more accessible.
• While the IMD shares data through its portal, access is often limited, especially for researchers and academic institutions.
• In contrast, countries like the U.S., the U.K., and the European Union offer open access to weather data, encouraging innovation.
• ‘Mission Mausam’ should follow a similar path by making data from new weather instruments and models available in the public domain, which can foster the development of localized early warning systems and weather tools.

Enhancing Communication and User Experience

• The IMD currently disseminates weather information through web and mobile applications, offering district-wise forecasts ranging from one hour to four days.
• However, there is room for improvement in terms of user experience.
• More informative content, such as videos and guides, could help users interpret warnings more effectively.
• ‘Mission Mausam’ should focus on enhancing communication tools to ensure that people can act on the warnings and better prepare for extreme weather.

Conclusion

• ‘Mission Mausam’ represents a crucial step toward making India climate smart.
• By expanding weather observation networks, improving forecasting models, and increasing data accessibility, the initiative has the potential to transform how weather information is used in India.
• With climate risks becoming more frequent, improving forecasting and communication systems will be essential in protecting lives and livelihoods.