Sound planning in the Himalayas

Conventional planning strategies and solutions cannot adequately address the challenges faced by hill towns in the wake of the changing climate. In August 2023, the Supreme Court mooted a re-evaluation of the load-carrying capacity of hill towns and cities, for which the Centre has proposed forming a 13-member technical committee. Here is a five-point agenda to consider while determining carrying capacity and development of hilly areas.

First, there is a need to understand the effect of slope, drainage and cover (high vegetation and forest land) on the stress that an area can take, based on which authorities must declare zones and sub-zones fit or unfit for construction. Traditionally, people built on stable terrain and determined land suitability with these parameters. However, due to limited land availability, more construction occurs on slopes, natural drainage paths and on loose soil. Next, with rise in extreme weather events like floods and landslides, the scale of loss and damage is high in Himalayan states. Projections and simulations are needed to gauge climate exposure and map vulnerable areas.

Third, development works like hydropower projects are soaring in Himalayan states. These have impacts such as forest fragmentation, change in river course and sediment load, disappearance of underground springs and biodiversity loss. Development regulations in hilly areas must take these into consideration, by mainstreaming risk-likelihood and cumulative impact assessments.

Fourth, as the populations of hill towns increase, their capacity to adapt to climate change shrinks, due to challenges like water scarcity, sewage management, limited livelihoods, reduction in agricultural yield, inadequate infrastructure and increase in vulnerable population. Their adaptive capacity can be improved by augmenting services and infrastructure, while prioritising solutions with lesser environmental footprint, and by roping in communities.

Finally, with hilly areas seeing a large influx of floating populations, there is a need for sound tourism and resource management strategies, including for traffic, water and waste.

Rajneesh Sareen is programme director and Mitashi Singh is programme manager, sustainable habitat programme, Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi

This was first published in the 1-15 February, 2024 print edition of Down To Earth

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