Himalaya Niti Abhiyan (HNA) team after spots of flash floods on July 31, at three places in Himachal Pradesh, has cited change in global climatic pattern and receding glaciers in the region due to enhanced human activity in the deep forest on hill hills.
HNA convener Guman Singh, who visited the sites along with Rajender Chauhan, Ajit Rathor, Rakesh Sharma at Samej, Bagipul and Terang, said , “ Increasing high intensity rainfall (cloud burst) and flash floods are attributed to global climate change and receding glaciers turning the soil loose leading to landslides .”
The NHA finding suggests, “Over the period Indian South-West monsoon and extended western disturbances are clashing and impacting the rain pattern in several regions of India.”
“ Increased human activity on high hills for construction of hydro power projects and for building roads , besides construction activity in sensitive areas are responsible for the devastating floods and landslides” , the report highlights.
The team members tell, “On 31 July along the Pir Panjal range in high Himalayas, cloudburst hazard turned into disaster for downstream habitations along river valleys. Flash floods in all the three Samej, Kurpan and Ganvi Khad can be traced back to the single cloudburst on Shrikhand mountain peak.”
Another cloudburst occurred above the higher peak of Malana of the same mountain range led to flash floods above Malana Dam.
The team found ,” While the upstream Phase 2 of Malana opened the gate on time; failure to open gates by Phase 1 project, almost 10kms downstream, led to cutting of soft sediment valley portion on its right end and subsequent burst of water dam.”
The report says,” Destruction also took place in Parvati valley and Sainj where roads, buildings and bridges were damaged.”
The HNA team, which has prepared a detailed a list of human loss and damage to private and public property at all three sites, has also suggested immediate steps to provide relief to affected people, besides taking long term measures to save the region from such future destruction.
