The frightening visuals of vehicles being washed away in a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst in Dharamsala’s Bhagsunag area, and reports of several casualties following a massive landslide in the Boh valley, cannot merely be termed natural disasters. Much of the blame lies on the rampant human activity in areas — be it water courses or forestland — that were never meant to be fiddled with. In Bhagsu- nag, water breached the banks of the natural drain that had been encroached upon for building hotels and commercial spaces. How and why such constructions were allowed confounds logic. The mad race in the hills to not lose out on the opportunity that the tourist influx offers, and in the process break every law — of the land, and nature — is an assured recipe for disaster. If not today or tomorrow, then soon enough.

Himachal Pradesh and even neighbouring Uttarakhand are paying the price for loose regulatory mechanisms, and looking the other way because of their inability to facilitate other means of income generation. The pandemic has only added to the desperation, and local wisdom and ways passed down through the generations stand little chance in confronting the lure of quick money. Eco-warriors by the dozen have taken up cudgels, but it is only the government that has the wherewithal to sound the alarm. The consequences of wanton levelling of hills and raising structures in every conceivable nook and corner will be dire, and not recognising this can only be construed as irresponsible.

The concept of responsible tourism, both by the hosts and the guests, cannot be seen as inimical to the industry. Every person living or coming to the hills is a stakeholder in holding on to the pristine, but fragile environs. Just imposing a green tax is a meaningless exercise if no effort is made to educate the visitor and incentivise the investor to conserve and preserve. Appoint marshals who guide and reprimand, involve citizens of every hill station in laying down norms that must be followed, demand respect for the land. From the locals and the visitors.