NEW DELHI – As a series of devastating floods, cloudbursts, and unpredictable weather patterns sweep across India, it’s becoming clear that these are not merely natural calamities but a direct result of human actions. While nature is generous in its bounty, it can be equally unforgiving in its fury when pushed to the brink.
The scenes of destruction across the country—submerged homes, washed-out roads, and damaged infrastructure—are a harsh reminder of the consequences of our myopic approach to development. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” This truth is more relevant today than ever. The relentless pursuit of so-called modern development has led to rampant deforestation, uncontrolled construction, and a blatant disregard for the delicate ecological balance of our mountain ecosystems.
In the mountains, the fragile ecosystem has been strained by large-scale projects like hotels, roads, dams, and mining. When forests are cleared, the land loses its ability to absorb rainwater, leading to flash floods and landslides. This is precisely what we are witnessing in states like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, where once-serene landscapes are now sites of unprecedented devastation.
A History of Disregard
Over the past few decades, India’s weather patterns have been completely disrupted. The monsoon, once a predictable season, has become erratic, with some areas receiving a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours, while others face prolonged droughts. The 2013 Kedarnath tragedy exposed the flaws of reckless construction in the Himalayas, and the 2023 floods in Delhi, which saw the Yamuna River break a 45-year record, served as a stark warning that our cities are also highly vulnerable.
Human intervention has choked our rivers, which were once the cradles of civilization. Encroachments, unmanaged dams, and diversion of river courses have turned these lifelines into agents of destruction. On average, floods in India kill 1,600 people annually, affect 7.5 million, and cause billions in economic damage. The floods of 2023 alone caused more than Rs 60,000 crore in losses in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.
The Path Forward
Simply providing relief and compensation is not a sustainable solution. We need a long-term strategy that addresses the root causes of these disasters. This includes:
- Protecting Forests and Restoring Rivers: We must stop deforestation and allow rivers to reclaim their natural courses.
- Rethinking Urban Planning: City development plans must prioritize effective drainage systems and green spaces to mitigate flood risks.
- Sustainable Mountain Development: Future projects in mountainous regions must be built with ecological sensitivity in mind.
- Public Awareness: A widespread campaign is needed to educate people about the importance of environmental protection for their own survival.
These are not just “natural” disasters; they are, in many ways, human-made catastrophes. While India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy, it cannot afford to bear the human and economic cost of such calamities. The recent events are a clear message: if we do not redefine our development policies to prioritize the environment, we may have to pay the ultimate price.
