Challenges India faces in counteringnational security and climatic disasters
Dr VK Bahuguna
May 12, 2025
India because of its varied geography, location, geological and climatic conditions coupled with its ‘reactive approach’ in dealing with things is prone to natural and other disasters. Time and again the national disaster responsehave not been at all commensurate with the desired level of preparedness as well as, technology andswift action. Our administrative system takes action and rise from slumber only when disasters happens. Every year time and again seasonal disasters occur and several lives are lost as also huge loss of property and life sustaining resources. The governance for disaster management though during last few years have improved after the creation of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) but it awfully falls short of the level of international standards. Take for example the recent Pahalgaon terrorist attack on 22nd April 2025 in which 26 innocent Hindu lives were brutally killed by Pakistan sponsored terrorists by first asking their religion. It was an attack on the soul of India but the administration there miserably failed to plan to prevent such attacks on tourist spots in Kashmir, even as in major such tourist spots elsewhere in the country security arrangements are made to oversee law and order and all who matter in running security apparatus in Jammu and Kashmir know full well that Kashmir is always on the radar of Pakistan sponsored terrorists. It was a well-known fact that last year more than 2.35 crore tourist visited Kashmir and the government opened all tourist places without making any arrangements for a security of people. Whatever, the political rhetoric about peace returning in Kashmir after the aftermath of abrogating Article 370, all Indians were sure that terrorists have been striking at will in Kashmir and Jammu as several cases of civilian killings were witnessed now and then. There was no coordination between the state and central intelligence agencies though intelligence inputs were indicating terrorist strike. In an era of modern technological innovation there should not be collateral human loss of our armed forces during search operations to tackle the terrorists. We have a very professional Army no doubt but we need to learn a lesson or two from Israeli Army and their leadership despite the fact that they too have a divided coalition polity. The state and central agencies failed to apprehend the local support to terrorists and Islamists not only in Kashmir but all over as the ecosystem that support anti national forces is yet to given fatal blow as they gleefully carry out their operations.
There are talks of hunting down the perpetrators and their supporters for last 35 years but with minimal lasting success as Pakistan keep black mailing about use of their clandestinely achieved nuclear power status. This is so far about the threat to our national security. A solid standard operating procedure along with accountability and well-defined coordinated responsibility must be enforced. The government also did commit hara-kiri by opting for an early election as terrorist sympathisers also won and boosted their morale. The government should have told all and who matter in clear terms not to have ‘holier than thou’ approach on national security matters when the direction to hold elections and delimitation was carried out. Unless total annihilation of terrorism is carried out all such political activities should be suspended as politicians tend to confuse the issue for selfish electoral gains.
Let us discuss the other disasters looming large in coming months. The coming summer is showing its fangs. Only a well-planned strategy can help prevent life and property losses. But what Delhi-NCR saw on 2nd May 2025 a severe thunderstorm, gusty winds, hails and rains that choked the roads with fallen trees and water logging killing 6 people in Delhi proves that no lesson has been learnt. The roadside trees fell as pack of cards because for last many years the environmentalists have been arguing against concretization of soil around trees and pavements which dries up moisture, and tress become weak as their roots cannot spread and do not get water. The weather pattern and westerly winds coupled with rising temperature due to climate change are making flying challenging as has been noticed for many days in last 15 days. A concerted pinpointed strategy is need of the hour. India’s summer and monsoon seasons in 2025 are poised to aggravate challenges due to climate change, population pressures, poor planning, and systemic inefficiencies. The issues needing attention are heatwaves, water scarcity, flooding, agricultural disruptions, and health risksas their intensity and frequency isincreasing every year. While some measures are in place, India’s response remains inadequate, and at bestpolicies are reactive, inadedquate investment, and bureaucratic inertiawith lack of accountability.
The second important issue which need to be addressed is how to deal with Heat Island effects and Heat strokes. It is a music to ear to notice that the Delhi Chief Minister had the other day proposed 3 hours break during 12 PM to 3PM for the labourers working on roads and construction works. Last year during 2024 the country experienced a severe heatwave, resulting in more than 700 reported heatstroke deaths across 17 states, according to the "Heat Watch 2024" report. It also identified around 40,000 cases of heatstroke. What this report miss is the actual data which is several times more as the reporting mechanism does not cover all such deaths in rural areas. There are instances of heat island effects in cities mainly due to factors like reduced vegetation, impervious surfaces concrete pavement, and building materials that store and release heat. In this regard the Metropolitan cities need to emulate the urban landscape management of Agartala city by the Tripura government where roads and pavements all over have been aesthetically redesigned with vegetation. The civic authorities must plan for at least 20 heat waves this season for each city and for proper water management and availability in both urban and rural areas. The heat related mortality may increase in slums and rural hinterlands. A new building code be prepared by the civic bodies under the supervision of IDMA which should have provisions how to deal with heat island effects and how greenery should be used to tackle it. To deal with seasonal diseases like gastroenteritis and other viral diseases must have a plan of action. Yet another issue is the managing the water resources in urban areas. As more than 60% of our districts in the country are water stressed. Cities like Bengaluru and Chennai may face “Day Zero” scenarios, where water supplies run dry, as seen in Cape Town in 2018. There is complete absence of water use planning at household level. We must prepare for the rain water harvesting and water harvesting at landscape level in both urban and rural areas specially on forestlands. Tamil Nadu’s success in reviving water bodies should be replicated all over India so all other successful stories. The National Disaster Management Authority must be reformed and be given the role of policy planning and monitoring of disaster preparedness for the entire country and only qualified experts should be posted in it rather than making it a post retirement sinecure for lobbyists. (The writer is Chairman of Centre for Resource Management and Environment)
(Tripurainfo)
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