Joshimath the sinking town in Uttrakhand’s Chamoli district where residents are being evacuated temporarily following wide cracks in their houses because of subsidence. And it is feared that not only this town, but many settlements around could be in danger of being wiped out. It is a human tragedy and it is man made.
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Bodoland International Knowledge Festivalpptx.pptx
1. ECOLOGICAL DISASTER:
TAKING COGNIZANCE OF THE JOSHIMATH CALAMITY &
THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
PALLAVI DEVI, PHD
ASSISTANTPROFESSOR
GAUHATI UNIVERSITY-ASSAM
BOROLAND INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE FESTIVAL FEB 27th to. 2nd March, 2023
2. The Scheme of the Presentation
◦ Understanding the Josihmath Calamity
◦ Understanding the Ecological Uniqueness of the Himalayan Region
◦ The Timeline of the major disasters in joshimath
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Human Development in and Around Joshimath
Road Projects
Hydro-power Projects
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Judicial Awakening
EIA s are not protecting the Environment
Abdication of Role by EAC
The Concept of Sustainable Development
Conclusion
3. Understanding theJosihmath Calamity
◦ 50 years ago, in the year 1976, the Mishra Committee Report,
reported that Joshimath is sitting on sand and stone. It is not
the main rock, hence it was not a suitable place for the
coming up of a township.
4. Understanding the Ecological Uniqueness of
the Himalayan Region
◦ prone to landslides and erosion. Combined with this, is the fact that
this region is highly seismic — it is classified as the most earthquake-
prone.
6. Experts study on Joshimath
◦ Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology
◦ Geologist Navin Juyal
◦ Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA):
7. Human Development in and Around
Joshimath
◦ Federal government’s Char Dham road project
◦ Under-construction 6-km-long Helang-Marwari bypass road
◦ No proper environmental impact assessment
◦ HYDROPOWER PROJECT TAPOVAN VISHNUGAD
8. FAILURE OF JUDICIARY
◦ First, in 2013 after the horrors of Kedarnath flooding .
◦ Second, in 2018 local petitioners filed a PIL against the blanket widening of chardhaam route to
a Double Lane (DL-PS)
◦ Third, after the Rishiganga flooding in 2021
9. EIA s are not protecting the Environment
◦ All around the world there is a growing catalogue of cases where
EIAs are giving green lights to developments that should never see
the light of day
10. Abdication of Role by EAC
◦ The reasons furnished by the EAC for its recommendation are
a basic link in the ultimate decision of the regulatory
authority.
11. The Concept of Sustainable
Development
◦ Preservation of human life and happiness in modern world.
◦ Irreversible Damage
12. Provisions to Protect the Environment
under the Constitution of India:
◦ Article 48A was added to the Directive Principles of State Policy which provides for “Protection
and improvement of the environment and safeguarding of forests and wildlife. The State shall
endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of
the country.”
◦ Inserted Part IV A (Fundamental Duties) under Article 51 (A) to 51A (g).
◦ Moved Forest and Protection of Wild Animals and Birds from State Lists to Concurrent List as
Entry 17 A and Entry 17B respectively.
◦ inserted by the Constitution 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
◦ inserted by the Constitution 42nd Amendment Act, 1976.
13. Conclusion
◦ Duty of the State
◦ asymmetry of one sided stress on rights needs to be rectified
