#Joshimath, another #Uttarakhandi Town under threat..

We can consider past 2-3 decades as golden period for #IndianGDP, #fastestgrowingeconomy, attractive #globalmarket, #favorite #investment destination, young #startup n new age #unicorn etc. & now targeting #TrillionDollarIndustry/economy in coming years but somehow our decision makers & #leadership in Govt. failed to understand the cost of this #development, unplanned #infrastructure & #haphazard growth. For present ongoing economic growth, compromise is done at the cost of our #fragile environment & rich #biodiversity without anticipation of future consequences & its impact.

Just few years back only, we lost #OldTehri City for mega hydel project of #THDC & now #Joshimath is under threat & sinking every day, may be because of some other hydel project coming up in the region.

Though Uttarakhand claim to be the custodian of India's Green cover & advocate of our youngest #Himalayan mountains & #divine #Ganga but never acted as responsible or #sensitive #Govt. & consider concrete infrastructure, broadening of roads, cutting down green trees, allowing mega hydro projects & super commercial tourism activities in fragile eco-sensitive zones, as real development & always ignoring dire warnings of nature as well as the findings of various experts committees (only formed by themselves).

Be it #kedarnath flood 2013, #Tapovan flash 2021 flood, #uttarkashi #earthquake 1992 n now challenge of Joshimath’s survival , they are directly or indirectly linked with our ambitious of becoming economic superpower, by simply ignoring messages mother earth sending us regularly.

Yes as per reports coming from Joshimath, in1976 expert committee (Mishra) submitted a report to Govt. giving it's clear warning of risks involved to State Govt. But even after forty six years, Govt. Authorities slept over it, waited for another mega disaster & happily enjoyed so called development. Today when more than 500 houses develop cracks and verge of collapse, then only Govt. came in action mode & declared state of emergency in newly developed disaster town of Joshimath.

Today Joshimath is getting national media attention because of its importance as Jyotirmath, established by Adi-Shankracharya but my concern is that despite of non- stop man-made disasters, Govt agencies are more enthusiastic about the commercialization of our fragile heritage & religious sites without any factual data of its carrying capacity.

Latest controversy of #sammedshikharji in #Jharkhandnd & #shatrunjay #mahatirth in #palitana of #Gujarat both holy Tirths/Sites of #jaincommunity , are declared as tourist spots inviting unwanted infrastructure, hotels, resorts, bars etc. and community has obvious fear of loosing its fragility & divinity, hence Jain communities all over the country are opposing Govt’s move. Don't know about the outcome of this agitation but why Govt agencies all over are after such fragile zones, why can't they leave it only for religious purpose & purely for divine activities.

Good, Govt is not having any control on #kailash #Mansrovar (Abode of #lordshiva ), so can not disturb its fragility otherwise our over ambitious Govt. Can also start all weather roads, train or Heli-services there on the name of development.

Please for God's sake leave all these heritage & religious sites, cities, temples in its original shape & no need to commercialize our faith & religious beliefs (asthas) on the name of development & infrastructure

Let's save n pray for sinking Joshimath.

by Dr. Anil Jaggi, #Sustainable Development & CSR Expert and Native Uttarakhandi