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Amidst India's rapid hillside development, a startling revelation has emerged, highlighting the absence of a specialized regulatory body for hill development. This alarming situation was uncovered through an RTI request, pointing to a potentially hazardous future for such projects and raising serious concerns among environmentalists and experts. B N Kumar, a Navi Mumbai-based environmentalist, in the wake of disasters like Silkyara and Chamoli, inquired with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) about the existence of a hill regulatory authority. The response, from Dr. Susan George K, a key scientist in the MOEFCC's Mountain Division, confirmed the lack of any 'Hill Areas Development Regulations' or an overseeing authority. This regulatory vacuum has sparked fears of unchecked hillside development. Kumar, also leading the NatConnect Foundation, had previously alerted the Central government about this issue. However, the concern was redirected to the MOEFCC and subsequently dismissed, with no specific grievances acknowledged. The response is especially concerning given the backdrop of Kumar's letter, which highlighted the disasters in the Himalayas and other hilly regions. The recent landslide in Irshalwadi, Raigad district of Maharashtra, underscores the gravity of the situation. Environmentalists are particularly worried about the unchecked and haphazard infrastructure development on hill slopes. Compounding the problem is the rampant, often illegal, quarrying around Mumbai and other regions. Although forest and environmental departments are involved, the lack of a centralized regulatory framework with clear rules for hill development is starkly evident. Existing Hill development Councils, experts argue, are more politically driven than regulatory in function. Nandakumar Pawar of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan echoes NatConnect's concerns, emphasizing that hills, as public assets, should not be exploited under the pretext of progress. While acknowledging the need for basic infrastructure for hill-dwelling communities, particularly tribals and Adivasis, he criticizes the ongoing extensive development of highways, tunnels, and dams as recklessly negligent. Pawar also criticizes the lack of involvement of local communities in decisions impacting ecologically sensitive areas. This situation calls for an urgent establishment of a comprehensive regulatory framework to govern hill development. Such a framework is crucial to safeguard the ecological balance and integrity of these sensitive zones, ensuring that development does not come at the cost of environmental sustainability. In conclusion, the unfolding scenario in India's hill regions is a wake-up call for immediate action. It's a stark reminder that development, if unregulated and unchecked, can lead to irreversible ecological damage. The need of the hour is a robust regulatory authority, equipped with clear guidelines and the power to enforce them, to ensure that the march of progress is in harmony with environmental preservation.
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