Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Time to decide: On the Himalayan region, its carrying capacity

Time to decide: On the Himalayan region, its carrying capacity

Infrastructure development in the hills cannot be the same as in the plains

The destruction wreaked (Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence) by the floods in north India in August has evoked (आह्वान करना, उत्पन्न करना) concern at the highest levels. Last month, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud had suggested that an expert committee conduct a “complete and comprehensive” study on the carrying capacity of the Himalayan region. Following this, the Centre has proposed setting up a 13-member technical committee. “Carrying capacity” is a concept derived from population-biology and generally refers to the quantity of a species that can thrive (पनपना, फलना-फूलना) sustainably in a defined ecosystem. Generally, population exceeding capacity will lead to a natural decline in numbers, as witnessed when grasslands or overgrazed or invasive (आक्रामक) species throttle (गला घोंटना) existing biome (the characteristic plants and animals that exist in a particular type of environment, for example in a forest or desert). Applying these ideas in the context of hill-stations and Himalayan States — the challenge is between balancing rising population, infrastructural needs and the precarious (अनिश्चित) geography — is bound to be a challenging enterprise. Going by recent history, it is unlikely that a disinterested scientific opinion will be palatable (रुचिकर, स्वीकार्य) to every stakeholder in the Himalayan States. Following the devastating (विनाशकारी) floods in Uttarakhand in 2013, the Supreme Court had appointed a committee of experts to evaluate the role of hydropower projects in the State. While the committee’s reports did influence a reduction in the proposed hydro projects, they failed to restrict road-widening projects and the carving up (Separate into parts or portions) of mountainsides in ways that were deemed unsuitable for the topography (स्थलाकृति).

The latest proposal by the Centre is not new; as far back as 2020, it had circulated, among the 13 Himalayan States, guidelines to assess the carrying capacity of their hill stations, cities and eco-sensitive zones. The Environment Ministry had in May reminded all the States to undertake such a study and submit them “as early as possible”. The crisis of land subsidence (धंस जाने की क्रिया, धसकन) experienced in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, in January had also sparked a debate on the conflict between infrastructural development and ecology, but in a matter of months, Himachal Pradesh saw an unexpected deluge (बाढ़, जल-प्रलय) washing away roads and highways built on denuding (to strip or remove the covering of something, especially land) mountains. More committees and reports will not change the reality that infrastructure development in the hills cannot be executed as in the plains. Either States must bear the higher cost that comes from building more sustainably and minimising the risk to denizens (निवासी), or designate regions as no-go zones. The latter has for decades provided fertile ground for political opportunism. As unequivocal (स्पष्ट) scientific evidence concludes, the option to kick the proverbial can down the road no longer exists.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Evoke (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - आह्वान करना, उत्पन्न करना
English Meaning - Call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses).

2.Thrive (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - पनपना, फलना-फूलना
English Meaning - Make steady progress.

3.Invasive (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - आक्रामक
English Meaning - spreading very quickly and difficult to stop.

4.Throttle (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - गला घोंटना
English Meaning - Place limits on (extent, amount or access).

5.Precarious (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अनिश्चित
English Meaning - not safe or certain; dangerous.

6.Palatable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - रुचिकर, स्वीकार्य
English Meaning - Acceptable to the taste or mind.

7.Devastating (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - विनाशकारी
English Meaning - Sharply critical or damaging.

8.Topography (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्थलाकृति
English Meaning - ​the physical features of an area of land, especially the position of its rivers, mountains, etc.; the study of these features.

9.Subsidence (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - धंस जाने की क्रिया, धसकन
English Meaning - the process by which an area of land sinks to a lower level than normal, or by which a building sinks into the ground.

10.Deluge (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - बाढ़, जल-प्रलय
English Meaning - A heavy rain.

11.Denizen (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - निवासी
English Meaning - A person who inhabits a particular place.

12.Unequivocal (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - स्पष्ट
English Meaning - Admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding.

13.Wreak (Noun)

English Meaning - Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence.

14.Biome (Noun)

English Meaning - ​the characteristic plants and animals that exist in a particular type of environment, for example in a forest or desert.

15.Carve up (Noun)

English Meaning - Separate into parts or portions.

16.Denude (Noun)

English Meaning - to strip or remove the covering of something, especially land.

17.Kick the can down the road (Noun)

English Meaning - to avoid or delay dealing with a problem.