Hydroelectric power in focus after disaster in India
Business Daily
BBC
4.4 • 816 Ratings
🗓️ 30 March 2021
⏱️ 17 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In February a devastating flash flood in India's northern state of Uttarakhand killed at least 70 people and trapped workers in underground tunnels. We'll hear from locals who witnessed the horrific events, as well as Uttarakhand journalist Kavita Upadhyay about how the news spread among the community. Indian geologist Dr Kalachand Sain explains exactly what happened that caused the flood, and Dave Petley, professor of geography at the University of Sheffield explains how climate change played a role. Now, in the wake of the disaster, India's strategy to bring more clean energy to the country through hydroelectric dams is coming into focus, with fears the projects are affecting the delicate balance of the Himalayan ecology. Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, explains why the dams should not have been near Himalayan glaciers to begin with,and what could have been done better to warn those near the disaster. Sunita Narain, director of the Centre of Science and Environment in Delhi argues, however, that development is needed in the Himalayas but it needs to be done responsibly. And we close with Amitabh Pande, who warns that the Himalayas are a precious resource to India, and should be treated with care.
(Picture: the entrance of Tapovan tunnel following a flash flood in Uttarakhand state, India. Picture credit: JALEES ANDRABI/AFP via Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Business Daily here on the BBC World Service. |
| 0:04.7 | I'm Rahul Tandin. Thank you for joining us. |
| 0:06.9 | Today we hear from people who say it's time to stop development in the Himalayas. |
| 0:11.1 | They say the recent destruction of a hydroelectric plant high up in the mountains in India |
| 0:16.4 | shows it's now too dangerous. |
| 0:18.5 | Development of the Himalayas cannot be by way of exploitation of the Himalayan natural resources. |
| 0:25.8 | But we'll also hear from others who say development needs to happen. |
| 0:30.2 | It is also clear that if you do not do development in the Himalayas, you will see large migration. |
| 0:36.1 | We look at the tough choice facing India |
| 0:38.5 | as it tries to decide |
| 0:39.7 | between lives and livelihoods |
| 0:41.4 | in the world's highest mountain range. |
| 0:59.0 | That was the moment when residents on the Indian state of Uttar kind of when residents on the 7th of February in Chamoli, high up in the Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakand, |
| 1:06.6 | realized the disaster was about to strike. |
| 1:09.8 | Many got onto their mobile phones and social media |
| 1:12.7 | to warn their friends and families to run for their lives |
| 1:16.3 | as water came pouring down the mountains, |
| 1:19.4 | washing away everything in its path. |
| 1:22.9 | Those warnings, though, came too late for a shock. |
| 1:26.2 | 18tharig, the morning, and here, here, a moment, though, came too late for a shock. We heard a loud sound. It was like a huge explosion. Then when we looked up, it seemed as if the whole river was heading towards my house, sweeping away everything in its path. |
| 1:48.1 | Within seconds, my house disappeared, and it took my daughters with it. |
| 1:53.1 | I have lost everything. |
... |
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