Making Molehills of Mountains: Demystifying Disasters in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, was launched at Doon Library and Research Centre on March 17, 2024. 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 Founder Anoop Nautiyal and SDC Lead Research and Documentation Prerna Raturi, the book has 14 authors writing articles on several 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:
The book also has 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.
Additionally, the book includes our Uttarakhand Disaster & Accident Analysis Initiative (UDAAI) monthly reports for 2023, 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.
During the book launch, Dr. YP 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. If proper drainage arrangements are not made, Joshimath-like conditions may arise in many other places in the future.
Geologist Dr. SP Sati questioned the development model for Uttarakhand. Citing various research papers, he said that instead of taking such 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. He stressed the need to keep these things in mind while making plans.
(Dr. SP Sati, Professor of Environmental Science)
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. Referring to the reports related to the investigation of the Joshimath land subsidence, he said that they had to resort to the court even to make these reports public.
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.
SDC Founder Anoop Nautiyal 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, we have released 16 such reports. The program was conducted by Prerna Raturi.
(Prerna Raturi, SDC Lead Research and Documentation)
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, Tanya Shaili and many others.
Making Molehills of Mountains: Demystifying Disasters in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is now available to purchase on Amazon via the following link.
