A careful reading of the natural disaster vividly illustrates how we as humans are stepping away from our moral responsibilities and obligations to preserve and protect the environment. No, we are shying away from taking reasoned roles to stand as a savior to the onslaughts inflicted on our natural resources guaranteeing decay and not development.
This gas leak in Assam and many other disasters are directly caused by environmental exploitation
Governments and corporations in close connivance are extracting as much as they could from this play. Be it the mining of mineral resources in tribal states like Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, and Odisha by giants like Vedanta, Adani or winning the successful lease deeds our leaders have been able to tide over the popular resentment of the people by suitably and systematically shifting goalposts in consonance with the political nature and orientation of those legislating and governing us.
Invoking a perception of pride, patriotism, and propaganda in our minds through which these power players descript their acts. What took place in Uttrakhand’s Chamoli district was a timely reminder as we have failed to learn our lessons right during the Kedarnath floods in June 2013. More than a hundred and fifty people have been missing in this dismaying disaster which equally surprised, shocked, and stunned each and everyone around.
Till now the experts have not been able to take the call on the nature of this damage- whether they should call it a glacial lake burst or an avalanche warranting thorough investigation and analysis. Also, it is important for the Uttrakhand state government to assist and aid the findings of the experts and scientists to understand why these disasters are time and again occuring naturally at repeated intervals.
I believe there are possibly two reasons for it. Firstly, the BJP government in the state is hell-bent upon reducing the forest cover of the state in pockets like Dehradun, Nainital, etc for promoting infrastructural extension and expansion benefitting a tiny few. Secondly, exploitation and erosion of the natural ecosystem have resulted in the toppling of soil cover and deforestation giving rise to such havocs. I am made to understand that Trivendra Singh Rawat as Uttrakhand’s Chief Minister should disregard contempt for looking the other way round and amicably solve the situation at hand by engaging with key constituents and stakeholders
Mere compensations won’t do for those who have been left to succumb and suffer.