CHENNAI: The disaster in Nepal has underlined the need to rethink infrastructure and development in the Himalayan region, experts said at IGNITION, a monthly conversation series hosted by journalist Shoma Chaudhury, on Friday.
Dr Jagdish Krishnaswamy, water expert and dean at Indian Institute for Human Settlements, said climate change is leading to extreme rain, increasing risks to settlements and infrastructure. He called for seasonal restrictions on tourism and pilgrimage in vulnerable areas and stronger early-warning systems.
Dr Harini Nagendra, director, School of Climate Change and Sustainability at Azim Premji University, said increasing vulnerability to climate change is partly due to infrastructure being built in unsuitable areas. For Chennai, she advocated restoring coastal mangroves and reconnecting waterways. She also stressed protecting wetlands and restoring native ecosystems.
The evening featured former Chief of Air Staff Birender Singh Dhanoa, who spoke about his experiences at Kargil, Balakot and military preparedness. He flagged defence procurement delays, saying immediate requirements should be met through purchases while future needs are developed indigenously. “Our procurement process is like a game of snakes and ladders with only snakes and no ladders,” Dhanoa said.
Senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal and law scholar Arghya Sengupta, debated on delimitation, protest rights and citizenship, stressing population-based delimitation could reduce the political representation of southern states, affecting the federal balance.
The discussion also touched upon the CJP protests, with the speakers examining the role of political protest in holding governments accountable.