Himalaya Niti Abhiyan : A Wake-Up Call for Climate Action and Sustainable Development
The recent monsoon rains have not just brought water to Himachal Pradesh—they’ve brought devastation. Landslides have swallowed homes, floods have washed away livelihoods, and families are left grieving for loved ones lost to nature’s fury. In the face of such tragedy, the state Assembly’s discussion on this crisis is a necessary first step—but it cannot be the last. Guman Singh & Kulbhushan Upmanyu of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan writes to Honorable Speaker Himachal Assembly regarding urgent action needed to save Himachal.
The Human Cost of Climate Change
This isn’t just another rainy season. The Himalayas are warming faster than the global average, and the consequences are brutal—unpredictable cloudbursts, violent floods, and landslides that bury entire villages. The science is clear: climate change is no longer a distant threat. It’s killing people now.
Yet, instead of adapting, we’ve made things worse.
Development Gone Wrong
For years, unchecked construction—four-lane highways carved recklessly into hillsides, hydropower projects disrupting fragile ecosystems, and mining stripping the land bare—has weakened Himachal’s natural defenses. Locals have warned for decades: “The mountains will not forgive.” Now, their fears have become reality.
What Must Be Done?
- Stop Ignoring the Warnings – Climate change is here. We need policies that treat it as an emergency, not a future concern.
- Audit Dangerous Projects – No more rubber-stamping dams, cement plants, and highways without assessing their real environmental cost.
- Listen to the People – Indigenous communities have lived sustainably in these mountains for centuries. Their wisdom must guide development.
- Prepare for the Next Disaster – Early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and clear rehabilitation plans can’t wait until the next catastrophe.
- A Himalayan Policy for Survival – We need laws that put ecology before profit, ensuring that development doesn’t mean destruction.
The Time for Excuses is Over
Every landslide, every flooded village, every life lost is a verdict on our failures. Politicians can debate, but what Himachal needs is action—before the next monsoon washes away more than just roads and homes.
This isn’t just about policy. It’s about justice—for the families who have lost everything, for the communities watching their land crumble, and for future generations who deserve a fighting chance.
Will we act now, or wait for the next disaster to remind us?
