Development vs Conservation

With recent nature’s furry in Uttarakhand, it is the example of the sober consequences that we have to face if we play with the nature.

There is a long tussle going on between Development & Conservation. Both are necessary for the society. Development (Economics) is complementary to Environment. With our country that is on the path of “super power” must accomplish the development goals to be ahead in the race & with that there is need for the conservation of the environment, which if not caring at the infant stage will give the results afterwards with lots of destruction & then all these developments that are done will get futile. So there is need to take care of both the aspect for the sustainable growth of our country.

There is innate behavior of hounding by people to the nature & they are sacrosanct towards the importance of the nature & its function in maintaining balance of the nature & ecosystem.

Now it has opened a butt between environmentalists, ecologists and bureaucrats.

Environmentalist vs Mafias

In 2011 notification, to declare a Economic Sensitive Zone (ESZ) extending to distance of 130 km from Gomukh where Alaknanada begins, upto Uttarkashi remains unenforced to this day. Uttarakhand government misgivings on this move based on argument that it would impede development . A lot of disturbance to ecology & destabilization of hill slopes caused by construction of hydel power projects along Baghirathi & Alaknanda.

Large scale hydroelectric power projects are being pushed in the hill states in the name of promoting clean energy. A lot of these projects leads to displacement, loss of forest rights & loss of access to water for the local communities. Hydro projects are posing serious threat to both natural ecology & stabalisation of hills slopes.

Another example is of Gadgil Panel Report on Western Ghats, which recommended some measures for Anthirapally Hydro Power project in Kerala. He observed that the area is highly sensitive to ecology & also for some endangered & endemic species. But Kerala government got furious and told that they cant accept this proposition as it is impracticable as the project would promote them electricity & development of the area.

If they would have accepted the panel’s recommendation they it would become problem for land mafias as it would impede their personal development.

Actually nowadays there is more emphasis on the growth factor rather than on environment factor. As for growth more industries, more infrastructure are required & for setting up these there has to be the exploitation of the environment. And these are getting over & over every day & leading to depleting natural resources of the environment. The problem is that economic

development can be seen instantly as development is happening very fast, but the nature’s furry can be seen afterwards. So people are more concerned about the short term benefits but don’t focus on the long term consequences of it.

As more & more roads, dams, constructions in large part of country, more power projects are coming these days. So they require large amount of land to accomplish these things. In some villages, the corporates are given large amount of land without looking for the damages to the environment & with the selfishness they are destroying the environment.

Effect on Ecology

With so much of industrialization happening all over the world, the Ozone Layer in many polar regions are depleting. One recent example is of Antarctica where Ozone layer is closing gradually. And by 2050 it will be closed permanently. Then think the results that could prove disaster. All the glaciers will melt & in a result all the water will come down the surface will raise the sea level and cause the nature’s fury.

After the some geologists given their research to the Uttarakhand government for the cosequences of the construction of hydroelectric power projects, construction of hotels. But they didn’t focused on the report & hastenly constructed all the projects. And now they are facing the consequences.

Many development projects require both forest & non forest land. Guidelines tells that work must not commence on non forest land until prior permission for the forest land is not granted. Due to poor enforcement , many project promoters cleverly start work on the non forest land portions.

Steps to Mitigate

More awareness & sensitivity towards the environment is the key to environmental conservation. A possible measure for this would be to inculcate awareness. Providing infrastructure for waste management, water harvesting and paper recycling in schools and colleges can go a long way in sowing the seeds of environment consciousness in young minds.Apart from this, at the micro level, each one of us can contribute towards the betterment of the environment, simply by living by the principle of “REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE”. Really, it does not take much time or effort to be judicious about the usage of precious resources like electricity, water and paper. Small steps do have a profound impact-and the sooner we realize this, the better it will be for our Earth and our future generations.

There is no second opinion that development is foremost thing in the country without that the society cant grow, society could not get benefited. But at the same time we must see the other side of the coin that what could be the cosequences if development will happen at a pace in which there is no environment friendly measures taken which is called “nature’s gift”. For sustainable development conservation is very important.

We can say Uttarakhand tragedy was only the show cause notice from the nature to the earth. It is ready for more disaster. If you play with the nature, she will definitely hurt you. And its proved in previous many disaster.

Conclusion

For development to happen government must take steps in the renewable sources of energy like Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Ocean Thermal, Biogas, Hydrogen Fuel. Government can reduce the usage of SUV’s in the country by increasing taxes on them as they are fuel guzzlers They are also polluting environment as well as eating so much fuel.

Development can happen by using other sources of energy. There is definitely cost is there & gestation period is more but we must think of the next few generations to stay healthy.

So government must think some credible steps & sober thinking about the environment & ecology. If they become sacrosanct about this it is not far to see some more nature’s furry. Its just a show cause notice from nature. India has two tradition. One in Judiciary – “taarikh pe taarikh” and in government – “committee pe committee”.

So instead of making more committees, think some credible solution for both development as well as conservation of the ecology. Because if there is development at the cost of ecology then we can see more Uttarakhand like disasters.

The need of the hour is that there should be strict regulations & periodic monitoring on these developmental projects so that ecological imbalances should not happen again and again. Its fervently hoped that the Ministry of Environment & Forest takes up a thorough review & carries out appropriate modifications to ensure that conservation takes precedence over clearance of forest land & ecologically sensitive areas for non forestry purposes.

Name : Abhijit Roy