Lucknow: Natural disasters such as cloudbursts, landslides and flash floods have become more frequent in the Himalayan region in recent years due to climate change, unplanned construction, indiscriminate road cutting, hydropower projects and deforestation, Himalayan expert Shekhar Pathak said on Friday.
Speaking at a lecture titled ‘Himalaya Ki Chinta, Poore Desh Ki Chinta Hai’ at the office of the Indian People's Theatre Association, Pathak said the growing ecological crisis in the mountains is no longer confined to hill states but poses a serious risk to the entire country.
He stressed that environmental instability in the Himalayas is directly linked to India’s water security, climate balance and rising disaster vulnerability. “What happens in the mountains impacts the plains,” he noted, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of ecological degradation.
Calling for stricter environmental regulations, Pathak emphasised the need for scientific planning and sustainable development to mitigate disaster risks in the fragile region.
Addressing concerns over pollution, he added that Himalayan rivers — which sustain millions — are increasingly being contaminated due to unchecked tourism, plastic waste and inadequate waste management systems.
