- Thu, 9 Sep, 2010, 11:25 am -

|| Dr. Dhirendra Sharma ||
Once I asked a Mandaleshwar why was he constructing a temple where there was no hospital. My friendly Sanyasi retorted, “I am doctor of Spiritual sickness, not physical doctor. ” However, last week many dharm-gurus, and concerned citizens were reported to have demanded stoppage of all Dams and developmental projects on the Glacial rivers of Himalaya. Under the banner “ Ganga Raksha Sabha” a meeting was held in New Delhi on Friday, 16 July 2010, attended by Swami Avimukteshwaranand , the Shankaracharya designate of Joytirmath and Dwarka, that decided to launch an All-India agitation. Admittedly, there are strong cultural sentiments against any construction, diversion or management of Ganga waters. But to launch an agitational campaign against any development plan is an irrational political reasoning. With a futuristic paradigm, it is necessary for the well being of future generations that we plan today and prepare better management of our natural resources which include the perennial flow of the mighty Ganga.
Our Himalaya is rich in natural resources particularly with the Glacial lakes and rivers which are full of perennial life saving Energy. The problem however is how scientifically could we manage them to serve the life and liberties of future generations. That calls for concerted efforts of all parties concerned.
Anti-development agitations would not help us when deluge, floods, and melting glaciers would inundate the Gangetic slopes of Himalaya. There is no dharma-shastra that says that any river water can absolve you of your sins (Moksha-daayani). In the Vedas, the Upanishads, and in the entire Indian philosophical works there is no mention of any Glacial river water flow necessary for Moksha or Mukti.
Pollution of Ganga is evidently a scientific fact. But there is no traditional or spiritual method available to us to manage the water and power demands of modern technological civic society. And without scientific management of the Glacier rivers and lakes of the Himalaya, there is no other way to meet demands of future generations. But the completion of the Dams and other engineering developmental projects calls for cooperation of all political parties and the concerned citizens.
Admittedly, protection of Environment is also a scientific issue and. Ganga purification ( Ganga Shuddhi) cannot be done by pouring milk and offering flowers. There are many traditional – cultural practices that cause damage to purity of Ganga.. For instance, burning and ritual dumping of dead bodies in the river is a serious pollutant to our Holy Ganga.
The Shankaracharya and custodians of Holy Ganga should ban the disposal of the dead bodies at the Holy Ghats, and should install Solar Powered Crematoria. Our dharma-adhikaris should also enact a law against dumping the ashes and the bodies in the Holy river.
Today, we have advanced scientific tools and engineering experience. The advanced scientific knowledge gives us the confidence for construction of earthquake resistant designs, which could surely withstand disasters of high magnitudes. Dr. Vinod K. Gaur, former Director National Geophysical Research Institute, writing on Earthquake Hazard in the Himalaya, says that with application of modern technology we have learnt the Himalayan structure of seismic processes and of rock parameters. We are now in position “to quantify earthquake hazard in this (Himalayan) high seismic area with greater insight and confidence.”
There are 13 high Peaks; 9 Major Passes, and 12 major and 5,000 Glaciers, and an estimated 200,000 MW hydropower potential in our Himalaya. In the past 50 million years, the Himalayan peaks, (Mt. Everest), have risen to 9 km heights and continue to rise more than 1 cm a year — a growth rate of 10 km in a million years! Scientists believe that the Eurasian Plate may now be stretching out rather than thrusting up, and such stretching would result in some subsidence due to gravity. Thus, shrinking and melting of thousands of glaciers offer afresh 21st century challenges.
In Finland, e.g., prospecting of melting glaciers are being mapped and construction of dams for water management, flood control and power generation are being planned.
As the glaciers are receding the land price in Finland is rising. With the warmer climatic future, the Fins are preparing for a Green Revolution and Unemployed Europeans are applying for citizenship in Finland.
Since we cannot control the natural forces, we should be prepared for natural disturbances. Our Himalayan region is super rich in natural resources particularly with the Glacial lakes and rivers which are full of perennial life saving Energy. The problem however is how scientifically could we manage them. And that calls for concerted efforts of all parties concerned. Anti-development agitations would not help the future generations when the deluge, floods, and melting glaciers most likely to occur.
(Author is the Director of Centre for Science Policy, Dehradun 248009. (0135) 2735 627.). Mob. 989788 3741.)