Clear and present danger in the Himalayas
As Himalayan towns continue to grow haphazardly without development plans and carrying capacity assessment, how does one secure their future?
Politico-builder nexus needs to go for Uttarakhand to control its destiny: Experts on relaunch of book on Kedarnath floods
In the years since Kedarnath, Uttarakhand has witnessed other environmental tragedies such as the 2021 glacial outburst flood of the Rishiganga …
Ravi Chopra on Joshimath: ‘Nature has decided that enough is enough’
Veteran environmentalist spoke to Down To Earth about the ongoing disaster in Uttarakhand
ISRO data shows Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag and Tehri Gharwal most prone to landslides in India
Mizoram saw 12,385 landslides from 1988-2022, the highest; followed by 11,219 in Uttarakhand and 8,070 in Tripura
Himalayan plunder: Hydroelectric plans in Arunachal will effect downstream Assam too
Arunachal Pradesh is highly susceptible to landslides; debris flowing downstream will change river behaviour, fear experts
Joshimath crisis is a warning from the Himalayas
A development model based on local conditions and aspirations is necessary
What caused land subsidence in Joshimath?
The reasons behind this are the National Thermal Power Corporation’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower project and Helang bypass, which …
Joshimath: What escalated the situation on the intervening night of January 2-3?
New leaks reported in several areas; closed tunnel in Tapovan may be the source
Joshimath: Subsidence in several Uttarakhand villages since December 25, 2022
Down To Earth ground report finds widening cracks in remote villages around Joshimath
As told to Parliament (February 13, 2023): Climate change likely to pull down wheat yield by 6-25% in 2100, says minister
Rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce marginally
Joshimath’s sinking brings Uttarakhand’s rehabilitation policy into sharp focus
Of Uttarakhand’s 484 villages threatened by natural disasters, more than 450 await relocation despite the state’s ambitious …
Glacial burst at Sumna on the Indo-China border near Reni in Uttarakhand
Sumna is an uninhabited place, with only border roads personnel working there; no word yet on casualties
Ecological well-being of Jammu & Kashmir stands at a critical juncture
Impending deforestation, shrinking lakes and potential lithium mining pose significant environmental challenges
Himalayan plunder: Tourist rush threatens fragile Ladakh
More than an average of 300-600 cars visit Pangong lake every day, passing through some of the most fragile ecosystems in the region
Forest Act amendments will dilute rights of indigenous groups in Himalayas: Activists
The bill is expected to be tabled for clearance during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament
Himalayan plunder: Suspend all current massive infrastructural activities, until proper impact assessment
Studies, including the recent space satellite images shared by ISRO, have found that the town has been sinking for a while
Sinking town: Probe NTPC project, say experts as subsidence creates panic in Joshimath
Uttarakhand government to prepare prefabricated buildings to shift people whose houses have cracked
Simply Put: In the name of development
India’s academic freedom declined strongly since 2013: Report
India among populous countries like China, the United States that fared poorly in the latest academic freedom index
Of Joshimath and Martin Ravallion: The sinking town shows all that is flawed in our poverty reduction discourse
Sustainable development is no longer a buzzword; it now questions the neoliberal economic development model, whose impacts are staring us in the …
As told to Parliament (February 6, 2023): India produces around 30 million tonnes of recycled steel
List of companies that produce recycled steel in India is not maintained centrally, says Faggan Singh Kulaste, Union minister of state for …
Himalayan plunder: Nature-friendly & participatory initiatives are the only hope for recovery, says Madhav Gadgil
Projects such as the giant Tehri dam also play a role in exacerbating effects of disasters, as seen during the 2021 Chamoli flash floods
Vishnuprayag hydel project suffers extensive damage
Residents say project managed by Jaiprakash Associates has increased flooding during monsoons