It was a gorgeous morning in Kausani, the most picturesque hill station of Uttarakhand. When I woke up I saw that the sun was starting to set. I quickly got ready and went on a long walk. The atmosphere was full of contradictions. On one side the cool, clear wind blowing from the thick leaves soothed the soul, and on the other side the hill forests were glowing. The carbon dioxide released from this fire was bound to negate the benefits of clean air.
Kausani has changed dramatically over time. Once upon a time, this peaceful hill town played an important role in the lives of many prominent personalities of our country. One of them is the father of the nation. When Mahatma Gandhi arrived here from Andhra Pradesh in June 1929, his health was bad. Kausani’s bright morning made such an impression on him that in just two weeks he composed his famous book Anashakti Yoga based on Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. Apart from the Anashakti Ashram where Gandhi stayed, there is the Sumitranandan Pant Gallery, a museum dedicated to the great Hindi poet who was born here. Pant’s poetry is known for its romanticism inspired by the beauty of nature. Kausani gave a lot to great people like Gandhi and Pant, but what happened to it? Not only Kausani, but the entire Himalaya is seen pleading for help.
It is unfortunate that there is a huge fire in the forests from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. According to the Forest Survey of India, there were 1,141 major forest fires in the last week of March alone. According to the survey, 22% of India’s forests are in the grip of fire.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released a report in February this year saying that “despite ambitious efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of catastrophic fires on Earth.” And the number of bushfires is expected to increase by 31-57% by the end of the century in seasons such as Australia’s Black Summer.
No continent has been spared. In the same year, the whole world was in panic due to smoldering in the Amazon forests of Brazil. This forest area alone emits 20% of the world’s total oxygen.
The temperature of our planet is increasing continuously due to fire and other reasons. This has an immediate effect on glaciers. According to researchers from the University of Leeds in England, up to 40% of all glaciers in the world have shrunk. Scientists at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun have said many times that the Gangotri glacier is melting by 15 to 20 cm per year. Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav had confirmed in the Rajya Sabha in March that the glacier has lost 0.23 sq km in the last 15 years. He did not rule out the possibility of black carbon being affected on the Gangotri glacier.
What exactly is black carbon though?
According to PS Negi, scientist of Wadia Institute, black carbon is a ‘particulate matter’. Its presence increases the temperature, causing the glaciers to melt. It is the only pollutant that is harmful to both humans and the environment. However, according to a research paper by the Cato Institute, the Himalayas are still unaffected by global warming. They also reject the claim that all glaciers will melt by 2035. They believe that the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers will not dry up.
The Sanskrit proverb Munde-Munde matribhina (thinking like heads separate) also applies to scientists. This explains why his claims are so contradictory. In this month’s report of the Environment Preference Index (EPI), India was ranked last out of 180 countries. Yale and Columbia Universities in the US collaborated on this report. The report is published every two years. This time India is also below Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Researchers had earlier ranked India at 168. The Indian government, predictably, dismissed it as ranking based on “biased metrics and biased weighting”.
Whatever the experts and scientists claim, it cannot be denied that everyone everywhere is experiencing a change in the cycle of heat and rain. Mango flowers had reached the orchards of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh earlier this year. While walking in the mountainous region of Kumaon, I met many farmers and nature lovers. They all claim that it has not only caused damage to crops but also to other living beings in almost the same way. One thing is certain: this is the time for everyone to exercise caution. Not only is it necessary to strengthen laws and regulations, but it is also imperative that they be strictly enforced.
Shashi Shekhar is the editor-in-chief of Hindustan. Thoughts are personal.