Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Reckless spree: On Joshimath sinking

Reckless spree: On Joshimath sinking

Authorities must heed (ध्यान देना) science and people living near mines, dams

The land subsidence (धसकन, घटाव, कमी) in Joshimath has become emblematic (प्रतीकात्मक) of a geological disaster that has in fact manifested (प्रकट, घोषणा करना) across India, in the neighbourhood of several large resource-extraction projects. There have been reports of subsidence from the Jharia, Bhurkunda, Kapasara, Raniganj and Talcher coal mines; from Delhi and Kolkata due to the over-extraction of groundwater; and from Mehsana for hydrocarbons. Last year, land in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, began to sag shortly after a hydroelectric power project began test runs, calling into question the effects of the Tapovan Vishnugad facility near Joshimath in Uttarakhand. In 2010, some months after a tunnel-boring machine nicked an underground aquifer near Joshimath, leading to substantial (Of ample amount) water discharge, two researchers wrote in Current Science that the “sudden and large scale dewatering of the strata has the potential” to trigger “ground subsidence in the region”. Determining whether the ongoing incident can be traced directly to the 2009 aquifer puncture is complicated by the lack of long-term scientific investigations of the area. On January 5, the NTPC issued a statement washing its hands of the unfolding crisis (संकट) after locals began pointing fingers at Tapovan Vishnugad, as well as the Helang-Marwari bypass (Avoid or circumvent (an obstacle or problem)) as part of the Char Dham project. Scientists from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Geophysical Research Institute set out on January 10 to examine the circumstances of the subsidence. Both the national and the State governments must heed the team’s findings, even if it means ceasing (To bring an activity to an end) further construction work.

Experts and civil society have called on the government on many occasions to ease its dam-building spree (An unrestrained indulgence in an activity), of late over rivers in the north and the Northeast; to moderate tourism in the regions to be sustainable (टिकाऊ, दीर्घकालिक); and to not blow off unstable hillsides to widen roads. Heavy rains in Aizawl in July triggered (To cause to happen) subsidence, exposing poor zoning enforcement (प्रवर्तन, प्रचलन) and oversight of the regional carrying capacity. But in Joshimath, which is particularly prone to landslides, questions about zoning, carrying capacity and tipping points have all been set aside. The subsidence in Joshimath has captured the nation’s attention because it is a destination for both pilgrims and tourists, but it is far from being the site of the first or the deadliest incident. The government must undertake (A group of two or more acting in conjunction) whatever repair and restoration (मरम्मत) efforts it is undertaking at Joshimath at all the other sites as well. Finally, the national and the State governments must listen to both science and the people already living near mines and dams. There is an argument to allow economically developing countries to emit more before becoming carbon-neutral, but it is not a free pass to plunder (लूट लेना) natural resources at the cost of climate justice.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Reckless (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - लापरवाह
English Meaning - (of a person or their actions) without thinking or caring about the consequences of an action.

2.Sink (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - डूबना, ढलना
English Meaning - To fall or drop.

3.Heed (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - ध्यान देना
English Meaning - Pay attention to

4.Subsidence (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - धसकन, घटाव, कमी
English Meaning - The act or process of subsiding.

5.Emblematic (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतीकात्मक
English Meaning - Pertaining to symbolism.