Ignorance of traditional practices under the lure of economic opportunities, comfort, and convenience have aggravated the menace of landslides in the Himalayan region. The Himalayan region has always been prone to a number of hazards that are generally owed to its unique tectonic and geomorphic setup as also evolutionary history, and meteorological conditions. Stabilisation of […]
Himalaya
Disrupted bridges and missed opportunities
We encounter bridges so frequently, and in such diverse variety that we often take these for granted, and do not often pay particular attention towards their existence, leave apart appreciating their role in socio-economic development of our region, and adding comfort, and convenience to our routine lives. But then, imagine a world without bridges. But […]
Tradition of groundwater prospecting in Himalayas
Survival in the mountainous terrain, with scarce water availability despite ample rains, would not have been possible without mastering the art of water harvesting. The people of the region therefore observed natural processes related to water, ensured this knowledge being transferred from one generation to other, and experiemented to maximise water availability. Seeking answers to […]
Traditional knowledge: Groundwater presence
Just imagine that the early settlers in the Himalayan region were aware of the intricacies of Hydrological Cycle, groundwater presence, means of enhancing groundwater recharge, and had even mastered the art of groundwater exploration. Hope this is no testing time for the limits of your imagination. What if I say that by the end of this […]
Avalanche threat: Real or hoax
While it is still a long way for the costal areas to recover from Tauktae, and Yaas cyclones that hit western, and eastern coast of India in quick succession, possibility of an avalanche has been expressed by some vernacular newspapers in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. And believe me, this avalanche threat is not based […]
Tradition of water harvesting
Nectar of life Everyone knows that water is a must for survival, and you would have often observed plants in your terrace wither or wilt due to shortage of water. It is however a lesser-known fact that water has been an essential ingredient for the very evolution of life, and the earliest life forms on […]
Winter season flood in the Himalayas
Winter season flood in not a common occurrence in Himalaya. During the winter season higher reaches of Himalaya are under thick cover of snow, and melting of glaciers is insignificant. Winter season is thus a lean flow period for Himalayan rivers. No one was thus had scant idea of this winter season flood in Himalaya. […]