Himalayan Tragedy and its aftermath

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A view of Nainital
A great Himalayan tragedy took place in the Uttarakhand Himalayas of India this summer when record rains and landslides caused widespread damage and deaths. Some environmentalists predict that due to man made climate change and exploitation of nature more such tragedies; more frequently are likely to take place in future. This is definitely time for all thinkers, scientists, environmentalists, administrators and politicians to sit back and reflect on the future of the Himalayas and come up with new plans and strategies to meet the challenges ahead. Towards this end this note is a humble contribution of the author a scientist and technologist himself with deep links to the Uttarakhand Himalayas to throw up some ideas for further debate and discussion, as included in this note:


The Stream of Tourists:

A major source of pressure to the Uttarakhand Himalayas is the ever increasing stream of tourists and pilgrims to the region. In the coming years, if unchecked this is bound to increase. It results in the creation of more and more hotels and more and more pressure on the eco system. Although this adds to the economic prosperity of the region temporarily until destruction strikes, should the traffic be allowed to increase endlessly? The answer is clearly, NO. Human lives and infrastructure is far more important than the temporary prosperity through this route. If the answer is no, then the question arises as to HOW?

The simple answer is fix quotas but that is not the best answer. There is another simpler method that shall also compensate for the economic loss to the province from reduced traffic, and that is by fixing a green entry tax to the region.

This is how a green entry tax can be fixed. Every person businessman, tourist or pilgrim who is not a resident of Uttarakhand as revealed from PAN Card/election card/Adhaar or Passport shall be required to purchase an entry ticket to the region costing say Rupees 500. The ticket will be valid for thirty days and carry the persons name and the ID used – PAN etc. as enumerated above. The ticket may be purchased ahead of time from designated banks/post offices/centers at a concession or if not then the person visiting shall have to pay it at entry by waiting in a line. A slip will be generated on a computer and will have to be carried by the person along with a photo copy of the ID number on slip while in the region in case of occasional surprise checks and also while getting admission in a hotel/guest house/ashram etc.


Such a fee should not be required from those who visit the plains of Uttarakhand (towns or regions below 2500 feet) and also from those who establish residence for work or otherwise. These latter persons may simply submit an application for a residence card that shall be mailed to their home or work address as they choose. The idea is to limit tourist and other short term visitors to eco-sensitive zones not a freeze on entry of others, lest there be reciprocal retaliation from other states.

Such a procedure will also lead to automatic registrations of persons entering and be a source of revenue while obviously limiting traffic. The number of tourists can then easily be controlled by adjusting this charge as and when necessary. Such an entry green tax is especially necessary in Peak summer months and can be dropped in the lean winter months. However, the vehicle entry tax as proposed next needs to be kept throughout the year to prevent an avoidable damage and danger on fragile hill roads.



The Stream of Vehicles

Along with the number of tourists there is also an increase of the number of vehicles entering the fragile Himalayan roads and this too shall increase with time unless checked. Aside from the fact that vehicles are increasing, is the insidious fondness of Indians for large cars such as SUVs and of transporters for large buses and large trucks unsuitable for hill roads. The simple way to check this again is for a very heavy green road tax for Uttarakhand registered trucks, large buses and SUVs supported by a heavy entry tax (at least 5000 rupees) for non Uttarkhandis large buses, trucks and SUVs entering the hill roads.

Use of Tax

Some of the above tax as collected may be used for two purposes

  1. Plantation of trees: It is well recognized that thick tree covers help to minimize damage by heavy rains on hilly terrains and there can be never enough of this as long as any of the hillsides remain barren. Trees do not grow above a certain height in the Himalayas but there need not be any construction at such heights too except some military, scientific and religious shrines. Traditionally tourists trek up to these shrines during a day trip.When considering trees to plant it may be noted that Oak is much better at holding soil than pine. Mixed forests that contain more of oak than pine rather than the other way around are best for bio diversity along with other trees such as wild apple and chestnut etc.

  1. Setting up regulatory authorities for developing and strict compliance of building regulations in the hill areas

Eco Sensitive Zone

While arguments take place as to which zones to mark as eco-sensitive, the simple answer is that all of the Himalayas above the height of 2500 feet are eco-sensitive and therefore require their own special treatment and building regulations. The suggested height here is just a first estimate. The precise height may be finalized after further Deliberation. It is expected to be somewhere between two and three thousand feet. Markers of this height should be posted on all hill roads at a height of 2500 feet with the notice: YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE HIMALAYAN ECO SENSITIVE ZONE.

Older posts  proposed a similar green tax as in this note and some areas in Himachal Pradesh appear to have adopted one. Another older post of a blog by this author (http://steamcenter.blogspot.com) had also proposed a carbon tax and this proposal with various modifications is in place in several environmentally conscious countries of the world now. It is hoped that the suggestions of the present note too will be considered seriously.

UPDATE April 2015 : About two years from the event described here, a tragic Earthquake has struck Nepal and once again the sanctury of the famous Shiva temple of Pashupatinath survived. While the heart of this blogger goes out to the sweet and lovely people of Nepal there are also worries of more tragedies to unfold. Was this once again the third eye of Shiva opening a little as described in this note? If so will it open again at another Shiva Shrine in another two years in the Himalayas? There are other famous ones including Amarnath in Kashmir? Read more of this spiritual reflection here:
http://nainitalgoddess.blogspot.in/2013/06/lord-siva-appears-to-be-angry.html

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