Navigating Climate Extremes: Unraveling the Development Challenges in the Himalayas

The Himalayas are facing a growing crisis. Recent disasters in regions like Uttarkashi, Kishtwar, and Himachal Pradesh show a worrying trend of destruction. These aren’t just random acts of nature; they highlight a systemic issue in how we treat this vital region.

The Himalayas, often called the Third Pole, are young mountains still growing. They rise around 10 mm each year, while the Indian subcontinent sinks about 5 cm annually. This area is known for its seismic activity, leading to landslides and earthquakes. Over the past few decades, aggressive urbanization has worsened the situation. In just three years, there have been extreme weather events in the Himalayas every seven out of ten days, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths.

The development approach in the Himalayas needs to balance economic growth with environmental responsibility.

Events like the recent Uttarkashi floods demand a fresh look at how India and its Himalayan states plan for this fragile ecosystem. The political climate around Himalayan development must evolve. We can no longer prioritize profit over nature.

Climate and Environmental Risks

The Indian Himalayan Region spans 13 states, including Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Since early 2022, these states have faced severe weather on 822 out of 1,186 days. This has made them among the highest-risk zones for landslides globally. For instance, Mizoram recorded the highest landslide incidents, with over 12,000 occurrences from 1988 to 2022.

Disturbingly, the Tehri Dam sits on an active fault line, raising concerns about its safety. In 2021, an avalanche in Uttarakhand devastated an area, killing more than 200 people. Climate change is causing glaciers to melt faster, creating over 5,000 glacier lakes, some of which are at risk of bursting, leading to disastrous floods.

As climate change fuels glacier melt, the Himalayas face increased risk from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

A GLOF in Sikkim in 2023 released massive volumes of water, impacting areas along the Teesta River and reaching as far as Bangladesh. This disaster exemplifies the interlinked nature of climate issues in this region.

The Development Dilemma

The crisis in the Himalayas is rooted in a political economy that values resource extraction over sustainability. Governments have long viewed these mountains as sources for hydropower and tourism, leading to an ecological imbalance. Currently, the Himalayan region has great hydropower potential, estimated at over 160,000 MW. However, this comes with significant environmental costs.

Tourism has boomed, attracting over 18 million visitors to Himachal Pradesh in 2024. While this brings economic benefits, it has also strained resources and disrupted local ecosystems. Recent reports indicate that unregulated tourism has led to serious environmental degradation, with areas struggling to manage waste and traffic congestion.

Supreme Court findings link unregulated development to ecological harm, warning that profit cannot come at the environment’s expense.

Planning for a Sustainable Future

Development projects often claim to support national interests, yet local communities typically bear the brunt of the consequences. As climate extremes and human activities collide, the risk of disaster increases. We need to rethink development in the Himalayas to incorporate environmental considerations fully.

Planning must include hazard maps to identify at-risk areas and focus on sustainable land use. Indigenous knowledge and community engagement can enhance disaster preparedness and resilience. By prioritizing low-impact infrastructure and responsible tourism, we can improve the future for both the region and its residents.

In summary, a more equitable approach to development can help balance the needs of people and the environment in the Himalayas. It’s time to reshape our strategies, ensuring they truly serve the land and its communities.

Soma Sarkar is an Associate Fellow with the Urban Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation.

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