19 October 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. Forecasting better in India, come rain or shine

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS1 – Geography, GS2 – Governance – Government Policies

Context

The article highlights India’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events like floods and droughts, exacerbated by climate change. It discusses the need for enhanced weather forecasting and data accessibility, with a focus on the newly launched “Mission Mausam” to improve India’s weather readiness. The mission prioritises radar coverage and public data access.

Introduction

• The monsoon season in India has seen one of the worst floods in recent years, affecting many states.
• A 2021 study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) showed that 40% of districts in India experience alternating climatic hazards, such as droughts during dry seasons and floods during monsoons.
• Another analysis by CEEW found a 64% increase in heavy rainfall days during the monsoon season over the last decade.

Need for Enhanced Weather Forecasting

• Nearly two-thirds of India’s population is exposed to flood risks, but only one-third of them are covered by early warning systems.
• This is a contrast to cyclone early warning systems, which cover all cyclone-prone areas.
• There is an urgent need for India to invest in improving weather forecasting to mitigate the risks posed by extreme weather events.

Mission Mausam: A Step Forward in Weather Readiness

• Launched in September 2024, Mission Mausam focuses on expanding India’s weather observation network, enhancing forecasting models, and researching weather modification techniques.
• The initiative is led by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), all under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• With a budget of ₹2,000 crore, the mission aims to augment weather observation through various instruments and improve forecasting by integrating machine-learning techniques and a better understanding of atmospheric physics.

Gaps in Radar Coverage and Data Access

• Radar Coverage:
  • India currently has 39 Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) for monitoring rainfall, each covering a 250 km radius.
  • These radars offer short-term forecasts, ranging from minutes to hours, for extreme rainfall events.
  • Many regions, especially along the western coast and major cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Jodhpur, lack adequate radar coverage despite being prone to flooding.
  • Mission Mausam should prioritise installing radars in these high-risk areas to improve preparedness against extreme weather.
• Weather Data Access:
  • Open access to weather data is crucial for researchers and entrepreneurs to develop localised early warning tools and analyse weather trends.
  • Countries like the U.S., U.K., and France offer open access to their weather forecasting data, fostering innovation.
  • In India, though IMD shares data through a portal, access remains restricted for academic researchers and think tanks.
  • Mission Mausam should make data from weather radars, wind profilers, and forecasting models publicly accessible to enhance research and decision-making.

Enhancing Communication Tools for Weather Warnings

• Improving User Capacity:
  • The IMD provides weather warnings via web and mobile applications, offering district-level forecasts up to four days in advance.
  • While these tools are useful, they can be further improved by offering guidance to users on how to interpret the warnings.
  • Mission Mausam should focus on improving the user experience by providing informative videos, guides, and media to help users understand and act on weather warnings effectively.

Conclusion: A Timely and Crucial Initiative

• Mission Mausam is a timely government initiative aimed at making India more climate-smart and ready to face extreme weather events.
• With a better observational network and improved forecasting, the mission has the potential to transform how weather data is shared and understood.

PYQ: What characteristics can be assigned to a monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the won population residing in Monsoon Asia?(250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2017)

Practice Question:  Discuss the significance of ‘Mission Mausam’ in addressing India’s growing climate risks. How can enhancing weather forecasting and improving data access contribute to better disaster preparedness? (250 Words /15 marks)

2. A perilous highway to salvation in the Himalayas

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS3 – Environment – Environmental pollution and degradation

Context

The Char Dham Highway Project, aimed at boosting religious tourism in Uttarakhand, has led to increased landslides and environmental degradation due to unscientific road-widening practices. Experts and studies highlight the severe ecological consequences of such construction in fragile mountain regions. The government, however, justifies the project on national security grounds.

Introduction to the Char Dham Highway Project

• The Char Dham Highway Project is a 900-kilometre, two-lane highway aimed at boosting religious tourism to the four Char Dham shrines in Uttarakhand.
• With an outlay of ₹12,000 crore, the project faces criticism for its detrimental impact on mountain ecology.
• Experts have raised concerns about the unscientific nature of the project, which has already led to significant environmental damage.

Environmental and Governmental Negligence

• Despite the known environmental risks, the government justified the project as necessary for improving connectivity for tourists and military movement.
• The project violates environmental norms, using technical loopholes to bypass necessary clearances.
• The region’s fragile ecosystem is already under stress from blasting and slope-cutting activities, resulting in ground subsidence and additional environmental degradation.

Supreme Court Involvement and Project Justification

• Initially, the Supreme Court favoured a narrower road width of 5.5 metres, but later approved the project in the interest of national security.
• The project was defended as necessary for troop movement, though critics argue that airlifts could serve the same purpose during emergencies.

Scientific Assessment and Project Impact

• The lack of scientific assessment for large-scale projects in the fragile Himalayan region is alarming.
• Road construction has destabilised the region, leading to recurrent landslides, blocked roads, and casualties.
• Studies suggest that these infrastructural developments are leading to silent disasters, including subsidence in towns like Joshimath and even affecting historic structures like the Tungnath temple.

Local Distress and Depopulation

• Infrastructural projects have caused depopulation in Uttarakhand’s rural areas.
• Many villages are abandoned, and people are shifting from agriculture to tourism-related jobs due to environmental degradation and poor agricultural returns.
• While the State government attempts to prevent land sales to outsiders, environmental damage continues to push locals away from their land.

Environmental Double Standards

• The government’s climate change resilience speeches contrast sharply with its disaster-prone infrastructure projects in the Himalayas.
• Sustainable, ecologically sound solutions are urgently needed to address the environmental crisis in the region.

Conclusion

• The Char Dham Highway Project exemplifies the government’s disregard for environmental norms and mountain ecology.
• Without proper scientific assessments and sustainable planning, the project is likely to cause long-term damage to both the environment and local communities.

PYQ: “The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation. (200 words/12.5m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2016)

Practice Question:  Discuss the environmental challenges posed by large infrastructure projects like the Char Dham Highway in the ecologically sensitive Himalayan region. (150 Words /10 marks)