Report of Himachal Pradesh catastrophe Meeting on 17th at Recongpeo, Kinaur on recent catastrophe A People’s conclave was organised by Him Lok Jagriti Manch on recent catastrophe in Kinnaur took place on 17 July, 2013 at Bachat Bhawan, Recongpeo. More 300 affected people Participated form all parts of district Kinnaur. Gathering was addressed by R S Negi, Nanak Singh Negi, Ramamurti Sreedhar (MM&P) and Guman Singh. Catastrophe and loses in Kinnaur It was reported in the meeting that heavy rain, snowfall, and cloud burst on 15-17 June has affected Kinnaur district severely. As a result the 25 people and thousands of the livestock died (the actual number of human death may be high because in the area the un-registered labour was also working in the Satluj Basin). The Kinnaur is well known for best horticulture (Apple, Apricot, Plum and Grapes) Apple orchards of more than 12000 hectares due to heavy snow in Pooh and other higher reaches, loss of standing crops and 12600 hectares agricultural land, damage to more than 1700 houses, schools, more than 300 roads and other private and government structures have destroyed due to this calamity. Numerous landslides and massive soil erosion has impacted vast areas which has been aggravated due to muck dumped in river bank by hydro projects and roads construction. Many houses and even villages have become unsafe to live. Unfortunately the plight of more than seventy thousand people in Kinnaur has not attracted national government and media attention. Left out There are reports that more than 12000 sheep and other cattle were killed and some of Gaddi/shepherd also has been killed. Secondly there were thousands of migrant labourers working in hydro projects living in temporary labour shed across the river bed. Many of them may have been missing about which no voice is raised. Reasons which aggravated devastation It is obvious fact gravity of heavy devastation and impact of this catastrophe has aggravated many folds due to unscientific construction and muck disposal by hydro projects, roads and building construction in the region. Heavy vehicular inflow and entry of external population on the name of tourism, damming of River Satluj and ongoing heavy construction of hydro-projects has essentially impacted local climate and aggravated nature of erratic weather. The Satluj valley is highly fragile and comes under seismological zone -5 region particularly beyond Tapri (Upper Kinnaur). Usually the region comes under Himalayan cold desert having spars vegetation, highly fragile and faces very less rain fall in an annual average 350mm. We are witnessing rain fall even above Recongpeo since last some years due to above human interferences on the name of development but within these 48 hours rain fall was recorded 365 mm (which is higher than the annual rain fall). This year it was not just only heavy rain and cloud burst but faced snowfall in the month of June which has been never witnessed in past causes this damage to life and local economy. It is an alarming sign of further catastrophe in this region by rain, flash flood, cloud burst, glacier depletion and earthquakes which will result in enhancing land slide, soil erosion and will keep the peoples of area under threat being washed away. This model of development has led to change in the climate. It must be recognised that since these losses have been more man-made than natural. The development model brought such diasater to the people of Kinnaur and made their life miserable. Thus the people are demanding the climate compensation instead of relief. Declare national calamity This catastrophe spread all over western Himalaya from Mahakali Valley to Satluj valley should be declared a national calamity with parity in relief and compensation. Relief declared in Himachal Affected People portrayed a typical problem of differential treatment in terms of disaster relief. People in Kinnaur which is the most impacted region in Himachal are being provided with minimal level of relief as per state relief manual compare to Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand has been provided with a relief amount from the state as well as from the central pool of funds. In an assessment by Himachal administration, it is a loss of more than Rs. 2500 crores due to June catastrophe. Government must have declared calamity in Kinaur and Uttarakhand region as national calamity because of contiguous affected region and logic of state boundary should have not been the criteria. National media has also not given due space to Satluj valley devastation. Affected people in Kinaur are being now poorly compensated for loss of life, livelihoods, properties, houses, livestock, orchids and agriculture as it has been reported as compare to Uttarakhand where more than threefold compensation will be provided from central government relief fund, PM relief fund and state relief funds. Increased relief is being distributed in Uttarakhand beyond relief manual. People in Uttarakhand are also seeking relief and rehabilitation packages from national and international institution, NGOs and UN organisation where there is no such aid being even considered to Kinaur. Not relief but reparation. People demanded compensation/reparation for losses caused by this catastrophe and climate change/unusual weather in Kinnaur which is net result of Dam/hydro projects, roads, mega infrastructure development and de-forestation in the lower parts of Kinnaur. Hydro projects in Kinnaur district only are generating power more than 4000MW. But the actual need of the district kinnaur is only 20-30 MW rest of the electricity is sold to the HP and nearby states. The private producers and Government Corporation are doing huge business. The state Government is getting the income through taxes on these private company and government corporation in addition to 12% produce share. The state government is also earning money through this produce share by selling the produce to other states of the India (which is almost equal to 600 -700 crore per annum). This whole fund is being spent by state government to carry out its official business and state plan. The affected people demanding that Kinnaur region and people of Kinnaur are provided reparation out of this huge receipt as against climate damage. People in Kinaur are agitated and expressed their resentment on above issues in this one day conclave on 17th July 2012 and demanded as follow: 1. Trans-Himalayan region must be considered a very risk-prone because of the potential of earthquakes, floods and landslides and must be governed by a sensitive and conducive model of development 2. Union and State government put moratorium on the Hydal projects in the Trans Himalayan region, and ongoing project must also be stopped as an immediate action by the state government. 3. Road construction shall be properly regulated as per Hill construction norms. 4. Forest right Act and PESA shall be implemented as per its letter and spirit in this tribal region. 5. Geologically and environmentally safe areas must be identified and provided to people for settlement and livelihoods, even if Forest Areas need to be de-notified for the purpose. 6. The Government should provide the land to the farmers who lost their land by the disaster as unconditional alternate livelihood claim. 7. The current disaster in the Western Himalaya from Mahakali Valley to Satluj valley should be declared as national calamity with parity in relief and compensation. The disaster in the range similarly affected the families. The affected of both the states are facing same kind of problems and living in trauma and threat. The centre government must declare it as a national calamity and put all needed funds and resources to rehabilitate the affected communities. 8. Relief for the loss of life and livelihoods shall be provided in Himachal as per norms followed in Uttarakhand. 9. Compensation shall be given to affected communities for the loss of life and livelihoods and climate/weather change by government which has overlooked the harmful effects of the hydro-projects, mega infrastructure development and make them liable. Future Acton decided: 1. HNA will represent the issue to the state and central government. 2. Hold meeting with Chief Minister soon to address above demands. 3. Joint (Himachal and Uttrakhand) Public gathering will be organised at Dehradun in the month of October. The decision is taken in consultation with groups of the Uttranchal working on the issue too. 4. Detail compilation of destruction caused by this catastrophe will be compiled soon involving local groups. 5. Sensitization of all MP’s and MLA’s of Himalayan region on the issue of climate change and negative role of the present development model. 6. Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment of Satluj Basin will be carried out with the participation of local action groups and Gram Sabhas. This activity will be initiated in the month of August. 7. Policy advocacy processes to have the state and national mountain sustainable development model and Natural Disaster management policy. The People Conclave is being organised by Him Lok Jagriti Manch and Kinnaur Sangharsh Samiti . Representatives from Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Mine Minerals & People and Environics Trust were present in this event. Guman Singh Coordinator –HNA, PH: 9418277220 R Shreedhar, Managing Trustee, Environics Trust, Chairperson, mines minerals & PEOPLE R S Negi Coordinator- Him Lok Jagriti Manch, Kinaur PH: 9418002562
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 08:40:31 +0000
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