Photographic record of the impact of 04Oct2023 GLOF on NHPC assets at SIngtam, Sikkim

BALUATAR, SINGTAM (27 15 1.8 N  88 27 34.1 E)

While returning from our visit to North Sikkim on 19Nov2023, we stopped by at Baluatar, Singtam to check the impact of the GLOF on the large NHPC complex there. It consists of the NHPC Stage V (Dikchu dam) power station, the Office of CEO, LANCO Teesta Hydro Electric Project, quarters for NHPC officers and personnel, a Kendriya Vidyalaya school, hospital and shopping complex .

View of the damage from NH10.

The damage to the assets has been huge with the bridge connecting the opposite bank at Baluatar washed away:

The whole area was deserted so we could not check when this area was hit by the GLOF, their experience or ascertain what was damaged except that which was immediately visible to us:

Damaged machinery outside the Stage V Power Station.

The raw power of nature is evident from these steel rods which have been bent and torn off. From photographs on the internet, there was a playground here and a lot of trees and greenery. The GLOF has swiped away everything and dumped almost 10 feet of sludge/sand  here.

Damaged electrical components of NHPC Stage VI dam complex at Baluatar

What appears to be a workshop covered with tons of sludge. A bus lies partially buried in the debris.

A structure excavated from approx 12 feet of sludge at the NHPC Stage VI complex.

 

NHPC TEESTA STAGE VI Hydro Electric Project Barrage at Sirwani, SINGTAM             (27 14 34.9 N  88 28 37.8 E)

The barrage, with what appears to be ruins of the bridge (see map) which was swept down by the GLOF

Literally every crevice and nook along the path of the GLOF has been filled up with millions of tree stumps. The destruction of forests by the GLOF should be quantified to know how much was lost to the floods.
This is the STAGE VI dam at Sirwani, SIngtam on 19Nov2023.

Praful Rao
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling - Sikkim Himalaya
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

with

Praveen Chhetri
Junkeri Studios,
Kalimpong
junkeristudio@gmail.com
9733185815

ChatGPT's essay on 'Hazards in the Himalayas'

Having heard so much about AI and ChatGPT, I decided to try it out and asked it to write a 1000word essay on 'Hazards in the Himalayas'.
Of course, I gave it many key words to keep it focused on the topic. I think it has done a marvelous job even though raw data is missing. Here it is:

"The Himalayan mountain range, stretching across several countries, is one of the most majestic and awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world. However, this magnificent landscape is also incredibly fragile and vulnerable to a wide range of hazards that pose significant risks to human life and livelihoods. From tectonic movements and seismic risks to heavy rainfall, extreme weather, and climate change, the Himalayas face a variety of hazards that require careful management and mitigation.
One of the most significant hazards facing the Himalayas is the risk of seismic activity. The region sits on a major fault line, making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes and other tectonic movements. The seismic risk in the Himalayas is further amplified by the fact that the mountains themselves are relatively new, having formed only in the last 50 million years or so. This means that the rocks and other geological features in the region are still relatively unstable and prone to shifting and moving over time.
The heavy rainfall and extreme weather conditions that are common in the Himalayas are also a significant hazard for those living in the region. In particular, cloud bursts, which can dump huge amounts of water in a short period of time, can lead to devastating flooding and landslides. These events are becoming increasingly common as a result of climate change, which is causing more extreme weather patterns in the region.
Human interference in the form of unplanned constructions, dams, and road construction is also a major hazard for the Himalayas. These activities can disrupt natural drainage patterns, increase the risk of landslides, and alter the fragile ecosystem of the region. In particular, the Uttarakhand disaster of 2013, which was triggered by unplanned construction and deforestation, highlighted the risks posed by such activities in the region.
Rapid population growth in the region is also creating new hazards for the Himalayas. As more and more people move into the region, there is increasing pressure on natural resources, leading to conflicts over water, food, and other basic needs. This is particularly true in areas where water sources are already scarce, leading to drying springs and water insecurity.
The Himalayas are also home to a rich diversity of wildlife, including endangered species such as the snow leopard and the Himalayan black bear. However, human-wildlife conflict is becoming increasingly common in the region as a result of habitat loss and other pressures. This conflict can lead to serious risks for both humans and animals, as well as damage to crops and other livelihoods.
Despite the many hazards facing the Himalayas, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate these risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of the region. For example, improved land-use planning and management can help to reduce the risks of landslides and other natural disasters. Similarly, efforts to conserve natural resources and protect wildlife habitats can help to reduce conflicts and promote greater ecological stability.
At the same time, it is important to recognize that the challenges facing the Himalayas are complex and multifaceted. Addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive approach that takes into account the diverse needs and perspectives of the region's many stakeholders. This means engaging with local communities, governments, NGOs, and other actors to develop strategies and solutions that are both effective and sustainable.
In conclusion, the hazards facing the Himalayas are numerous and significant, but they are not insurmountable. By working together to address these challenges, we can help to ensure the long-term sustainability of this remarkable natural wonder. Whether through improved land-use planning, wildlife conservation, or other measures, it is up to all of us to take action to protect the Himalayas and the people and animals who call it home.

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong district
Darjeeling- Sikkim Himalayas
savethehills@gmail.com
9475033744

STH activities (28Mar2014) : Talk on ' Major Environmental Challenges in the Himalayas' in NSS Orientation program at Kalimpong

Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Dist Darjeeling

Focus on Uttarakhand 2

The untold story from Uttarakhand  by Ravi Chopra (Excerpt from 'The HINDU')

The impact of the floods on Uttarakhand’s tourism leads to larger questions of what kind of development Himalayan States should pursue. Before delving into that, it is important to understand the nature of the rainfall that deluged the State. Already several voices are arguing that the deluge is a random, ‘freak’ event. Odisha’s super cyclone in 1999, torrential rains in Mumbai in 2005, and now the Uttarakhand downpour constitute three clear weather related events in less than 15 years, each causing massive destruction or dislocation in India. These can hardly be called ‘freak’ events.

Several reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have repeatedly warned that extreme weather incidents will become more frequent with global warming. We are already riding the global warming curve. We will have to take into account the likelihood of more frequent extreme weather events when planning for development, especially in the fragile Himalayan region where crumbling mountains become murderous.

In the 1990s, when the demand for a separate State gained momentum, at conferences, meetings, workshops and seminars, Uttarakhandi people repeatedly described the special character of the region. Consciousness created by the pioneering Chipko Andolan raised the hopes of village women that their new State would pursue a green development path, where denuded slopes would be reforested, where fuel wood and fodder would be plentiful in their own village forests, where community ownership of these forests would provide their men with forest products-based employment near their villages instead of forcing them to migrate to the plains, where afforestation and watershed development would revive their dry springs and dying rain-fed rivers, and where the scourge of drunken, violent men would be overcome.

Year after year — in cities, towns and villages — they led demonstrations demanding a mountain state of their own. Theirs was a vision of development that would first enhance the human, social and natural capital of the State. Recalling the tremendous worldwide impact of the Chipko movement, Uttarakhandi women dreamed of setting yet another example for the world of what people-centric development could look like.

But in the 13 years after statehood, the leadership of the State has succumbed to the conventional model of development with its familiar and single-minded goal of creating monetary wealth. With utter disregard for the State’s mountain character and its delicate ecosystems, successive governments have blindly pushed roads, dams, tunnels, bridges and unsafe buildings even in the most fragile regions.

In the process, denuded mountains have remained deforested, roads designed to minimise expenditure rather than enhance safety have endangered human lives, tunnels blasted into mountainsides have further weakened the fragile slopes and dried up springs, ill-conceived hydropower projects have destroyed rivers and their ecosystems, and hotels and land developers have encroached on river banks.

Yes, wealth has been generated but the beneficiaries are very few — mainly in the towns and cities of the southern terai plains and valleys where production investments have concentrated. In the mountain villages, agricultural production has shrivelled, women still trudge the mountain slopes in search of fodder, fuel wood and water, and entire families wait longingly for an opportunity to escape to the plains.

Last week’s floods have sounded an alarm bell. To pursue development without concern for the fragile Himalayan environment is to invite disaster. Eco-sensitive development may mean a slower monetary growth rate but a more sustainable and equitable one.
(The writer is Director, People’s Science Institute, Dehra Dun and Member (Expert), National Ganga River Basin Authority)

The full article is here

 Praful Rao,
Kalimpong,
Darjeeling district.