Category Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainable Development

The govt should enforce policies and regulations which limit the extent of forest land that can be legally converted for non-forest use.

Torrential rain and floods have caused devastation in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. Natural disasters have become a frequent worldwide phenomenon in recent years. The governments and the people will think that ‘this too shall pass’ and ignore it. But nature won’t relent.

Author Charles Simmons said, “Sickness is the vengeance of nature for the violation of her laws.” The big question is: will governments learn lessons from such disasters and go for course correction? One can attribute the recent floods and landslides to policy failure. Himalayan states have become the hub of tourism, with a sharp rise in personal income and a flourishing demand for recreational activities.