Himalayan plunder: How hydropower projects in the hills have increased disasters there

There has been a mushrooming of hydroprojects in the Himalayas despite the fact that they are prone to landslides and earthquakes

Safety from numbers: Tourism in the Himalayas is not uniform; its impacts though are detrimental

Over-exploitation of some Himalayan towns due to huge influx of people and vehicles can be dealt with by developing more tourist spots and …

ISRO data shows Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag and Tehri Gharwal most prone to landslides in India

Mizoram saw 12,385 landslides from 1988-2022, the highest; followed by 11,219 in Uttarakhand and 8,070 in Tripura

India’s academic freedom declined strongly since 2013: Report

India among populous countries like China, the United States that fared poorly in the latest academic freedom index

Joshimath Sinking: Preparations for Char Dham Yatra begin; locals still clueless about permanent rehabilitation

Reports by eight central technical institutes behind the cause for the crisis in the holy town not released to public yet.

DTE Reportage: How Joshimath has rung alarm bells across India’s Himalayan states

Down To Earth tracks ground situations in Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal, Sikkim, Assam and Manipur

Supreme Court to hear plea over survey of Himalayan states

Sustainability potential, carrying capacity of the 13 states in Himalayan region has not been studied, alleges plea; warns of more ecological …

Joshimath sinking: National highway construction in 100-km range of border now has riders

Environment ministry issues new SOP for national highways earlier exempt from environmental clearance

Simply Put: The brighter side of things

Himalayan plunder: Ecology changing for the worse due to loss of forest cover, drying springs

States in the northeastern region faring the worst

GM Mustard, Joshimath: Gagging scientists is a lousy idea; here’s why

Science needs to be open; the silencing of experts by the Modi regime on critical issues is against the public interest

Himalayan plunder: Hydroelectric plans in Arunachal will effect downstream Assam too

Arunachal Pradesh is highly susceptible to landslides; debris flowing downstream will change river behaviour, fear experts 

As told to Parliament (February 13, 2023): Climate change likely to pull down wheat yield by 6-25% in 2100, says minister

Rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce marginally

Himalayan plunder: Tourist rush threatens fragile Ladakh

More than an average of 300-600 cars visit Pangong lake every day, passing through some of the most fragile ecosystems in the region

Himalayan plunder: Increasing landslides in Himachal result of ‘development work’, say experts

Environmentalists warn of Joshimath-like fate, say stop power projects in the state

As told to Parliament (February 9, 2023): Land subsidence in Joshimath very old issue, claims power minister

In response to another question asked this week, the minister said Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydro Electric Project is far away from the site where …

Himalayan plunder: Why Sikkim geologists fear Joshimath-like disasters

Sikkim, also in eastern Himalayas, is plagued by unchecked development & lacks strong civil society to voice concerns

Himalayan plunder: Manipur landslides raise environmental questions

Considering the long-term nature of the ongoing project, it is necessary to adopt regulatory and monitoring mechanisms at the vulnerable slopes

After Joshimath, what?

A series of 7 columns on various issues affecting the Indian portion of the Himalayas in the light of the Joshimath disaster

Himalayan plunder: Certain towns at greater risk

While the entire Himalayan region is fragile, the zones that receive snow and rain are the most unstable

Himalayan Plunder: Balanced tourism critical

Promoting tourism in the Himalayas should not come at the cost of the region’s environment and ecology

Infographic: Himalayan blunders

Haphazard infrastructure development has made the fragile Himalayas even more vulnerable

Himalayan plunder: Save the springs of the region

Drying up of the important water sources will have a profound impact on people and the ecosystem

Himalayan plunder: How to design cities in the region

Build lighter structures, ensure proper drainage and use local knowledge to future-proof the region

Himalayan plunder: Stop excessive, aggressive development

Incidents such as Joshimath subsidence will continue to occur if policy approaches do not change