Dateline Dehradun: The book ‘Making Molehills of Mountains: Demystifying disasters in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand’, published by Dehradun-based environmental action and advocacy group SDC Foundation, was released at Doon Library and Research Centre, on Sunday. The event marked the presence of climate and environment writers and thinkers, who spoke on Uttarakhand;s environmental concerns, climate change, sustainable development and government policies related to development and environment.
Edited by SDC Foundation founder Anoop Nautiyal and Lead-Research and Documentation Prerna Raturi, the book is a compilation of articles contributed by 14 authors on challenges that Uttarakhand faces.The book has a message by Governor Uttarakhand Lt Gen. Gurmit Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM (Rtd), and a foreword by Dr B K Joshi, Advisor and Founder Director Doon Library and Research Centre.
The articles include those from SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra; Executive Director at Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority Dr Piyoosh Rautela; environmental law consultant and advocate Archana Vaidya and lawyer Vikram Hegde; surgeon and professor of trauma surgery and critical care at AIIMS Rishikesh Dr Madhur Uniyal; Professor of Environmental Science Dr SP Sati; author, activist and anthropologist Dr Lokesh Ohri; advocate-activist Mr Abhijay Negi; green climate and human rights activist Snigdha Tiwari; climate and land reporter Vaishnavi Rathore; founder member of Ganga Ahvaan Priyadarshini Patel; former director CSIR-IIP Dr Anjan Ray; and PhD scholar Mr Ramesh Goswami.
There are four human stories of Jyoti Semwal, a Kedarnath widow; Anita Kanwal, a woman living in a village near the Sitlakhet forest, and who along with several people has vowed to protect the forest from fires and people; Gabbar Singh, the foreman who was trapped with 40 other men in the Silkyara tunnel mishap; and Pramod Singh Rawat, inspector, SDRF.
The 12 SDC Uttarakhand Disaster and Accident Analysis Initiative (UDAAI) monthly reports for 2023 were analysed by well-known geologist Dr YP Sundriyal; CSIR senior research fellow Dr Jyotsna Dubey; and senior scientist from Physical Research Laboratory Dr Navin Juyal.
Geologist Dr Y P Sundriyal called the book an important document because the data published in the book can play an important role not only in planning but also in research. Dr. Piyoosh Rautela of USDMA talked about how people never built houses in agricultural land and were constructed at a height. “Later, as the population increased, people started settling in places sensitive to landslides,” he said. Citing the example of Joshimath, he said the biggest problem is drainage.
Geologist Dr SP Sati questioned the development model for Uttarakhand. He remarked how instead of taking important research into account while formulating plans, policy makers look down upon such research. Referring to unprecedented weather-related events in recent years, he said that earlier where there was less rain, it is now getting more torrential.
Advocates Snigdha Tiwari and Abhijay Negi, who represent various environmental issues including Joshimath in the Nainital High Court, said that the governments need to pay heed to the reports of experts; instead, efforts are being made to keep them away from the common people.
Ramesh Goswami, a PhD scholar in the field of environment, said that there is a need for coordination between development and environment. He stressed on the need for development with minimum damage to the environment.
Anoop Nautiyal of SDC Foundation said that this book has been dedicated to the 29 young mountaineers who died in the Draupadi Ka Danda II mountaineering expedition on 4 October 2022. He said that since this incident, SDC Foundation started the process of preparing monthly reports on major disasters and accidents. So far, the foundation has released 16 such reports.
The program was conducted by Prerna Raturi. Among the people present in large numbers on this occasion included former Chief Secretaries NS Napalchyal and Indu Pandey, former Secretary Govt of India Vibha Puri Das, WII scientist Dr. DS Rawat, Dr. PS Negi of Wadia Institute, Major Jan. Anand Rawat (Retired), Ajay Kothiyal, Tania Saili and many others.
