tikender panwar

Before We Set limits on the Himalaya, We Must Ask Who Sets Them | @tikender thewire.in/environment/befor…

#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: On cross-border ecological monitoring and urbanisation challenges in the Indian Himalayan Region, environmentalist and former Shimla Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar says, "...We are deeply concerned with urbanisation across the Indian Himalayan region. There is a silver lining: if nature is already decommissioning our hydropower projects, it is high time we understand the message nature is sending. However, within our committee, we may not be able to dwell on that extensively because our mandate and terms of reference do not extend beyond our specific scope..." On dialogues across borders, he adds, "...It is not just about establishing a hotline; we also conduct comprehensive spatial mapping. Since satellite data transcends borders, we utilise mapping from Indian satellites as well. Ecology and geography know no political boundaries—they have their own evolutionary paths. Ecology is not merely the relationship between human beings and nature, but also the relationship of nature with nature: how mountains interact with water, and how water shapes biodiversity..."

#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: On the BRICS Summit, environmentalist and former Shimla Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar says, "...BRICS has a very large role to play. It is not just about climate, but also about how we evolve in the current geopolitical situation where we are being bulldozed by the Global North. BRICS offers a great opportunity for India, China, South Africa, and Brazil to bring in alternatives—more pro-people alternatives—where we foster genuine South-South dialogue. It goes far beyond climate; it is a very keenly watched summit..."

#WATCH | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh: On decommissioning vulnerable Himalayan hydropower projects amid escalating climate and disaster risks, environmentalist and former Shimla Deputy Mayor Tikender Singh Panwar says, "...Recent events in Nepal have revealed that this is not just about heavy rainfall; the issue of melting permafrost and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) has emerged as a critical challenge. Water levels surged drastically during these events. There are thousands of such glacial lakes across the Himalayas, each posing a significant hazard as temperatures rise...We need to re-examine the science behind existing hydropower developments, such as those built along the Sutlej River... I argue that we must seriously evaluate decommissioning certain high-risk projects. Some simply will not survive these climate impacts, and it is far better for us to decommission them proactively before nature forces a catastrophic failure..." He adds, "...Data from recent glacial events in Nepal indicates that the kinetic energy released in a single outburst exceeded the energy of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. That illustrates the sheer magnitude of potential destruction we are facing..."