Himalayan State Of Uttarakhand Research Articles

Friendly Nations and Open Borders: Gender, Caste and Sacredness at the India-Nepal Border

The postcolonial legacy of India’s borderlands is a legacy of othering, particularly of the religious other (meaning, other than Hindu). The ‘friendly’ India-Nepal border, however, negotiates the sameness of religion by managing the refractions of caste and gender. The shared sacredness of the landscape reproduced in the circulation of icons, myths and pilgrims also reaffirms the shared religious identity of those crossing it. This paper argues that the sameness that constitutes friendliness at this border rests on evaluating the gendered and caste righteousness of those crossing it. It is rendered most visible in alleged instances of elopement, marital infidelity and trafficking that come into public view at the open and friendly border. The paper describes how sameness is both refracted and managed through the observation of the daily mobilities and spatiality at the India-Nepal border at two check-points in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.

Spatiotemporal distribution of air pollutants during a heat wave-induced forest fire event in Uttarakhand.

Prevailing dry conditions and rainfall deficit during the spring season in North India led to heat wave conditions which resulted in widespread and intense forest fire events in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand during April 16-30, 2022. A total of 7589 active fires were detected by VIIRS during the second half of April 2022 compared to 1558 during the first half. The TROPOMI observed total column values of CO and NO2 increased by 4.4% and 11.7%, respectively during April 16-30, 2022 with respect to April 1-15, 2022. A noticeable increase in surface level concentration of trace gases was also observed at Dehradun. In situ measurements of CO, NOx, and O3 during April 16-30, 2022 show an increase of 133, 35, and 6%compared to previous year observations during the same period. Weather Research and Forecasting model with chemistry (WRF-Chem) is utilized to quantitatively estimate the contribution of this event on the distribution of air pollutants over this state. The model results were evaluated against ERA5 reanalysis, upper air soundings, and TROPOMI-retrieved total column density (TCD) of CO, NO2, and O3. Two simulations with (Fire) and without (NoFire) biomassburning emissions input were performed to quantify the contribution of forest fires to the concentration of trace gases and particulates. The CO, NO2, and O3 emitted/produced from forest fire over Uttarakhand during April 2022 contributed approximately 39.95, 35.73, and 9.97% to the surface concentration of respective gas. In the case of aerosols, it was around 71.20, 71.44, and 33.62% for PM2.5, PM10, and BCrespectively. The vertical profile analysis of pollutants revealed that extreme forest fire events can perturb the distribution of air pollutants from the surface up to 450 hPa.

Role of tourism on disaster recovery: A case study of Uttarakhand, India

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is a tectonically active region, making it susceptible to natural and man-made hazards. The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has a history of disasters that cause huge loss of life and property every year. Tourism plays an imperative role in the state's economy due to its natural resources and pilgrimage sites. To foster tourism, the Government of India proposed the Char-Dham National Highway project to connect the four major pilgrimage sites with other tourist destinations. However, development projects related to tourism, such as road construction, blasting, muck disposal, mining, deforestation, etc., may even increase the frequency of disasters. Hence, this study examines how tourism contributes to disaster impact and recovery. A survey of 716 households was conducted in 32 villages in Uttarakhand where major disasters happened in the past decade. Using the Mann-Whitney U test, differences between households on on-touristic and on off-touristic routes are highlighted. The findings revealed that people in both categories have suffered the same harsh effect of disasters, but their socioeconomic conditions are significantly different. Overall, disaster recovery in off-touristic route villages appears to be slower than in on-touristic route villages because of a lack of livelihood opportunities, alternative income sources, poverty, and a lack of disaster coping skills. A special recovery assistance is needed for off-touristic route villages as they are more vulnerable to hazards. Development projects related to tourism seem to facilitate disaster recovery, but still are connected with considerable disaster impacts. Thus, developing sustainable tourism solutions with resilient planning is an important step in improving disaster resilience of hill communities.

Arsenic enrichment in the north Gangetic Plains of Laksar, Uttarakhand, India

This study reports new data on arsenic contamination in groundwater in Laksar, a pristine and semi-rural region of India's Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Based on a systematic investigation of hydrogeochemical parameters influencing arsenic mobilisation, the most plausible mechanism of arsenic release into groundwater has been proposed. The groundwater in the research area is mostly homogeneous, with the Ca–Mg–HCO3 facies accounting for 87.5 percent of groundwater samples. The combined effect of silicate weathering, and the dissolution of carbonate minerals predominantly influence Laksar groundwater composition, as evident from bivariate plots of Mg/Na vs. Ca/Na and HCO3−/Na vs. Ca/Na. The statistical analysis (PCA and correlation analysis) performed on the geochemical data indicates that natural processes such as carbonate weathering, reductive dissolution of Fe/Mn minerals together with anthropogenic activities such as the utilization of fertilizers in agricultural fields, human and animal waste disposal, exert control on the major ion chemistry, and As enrichment in groundwater. The study area has extremely high arsenic concentrations, ranging from 0.60 to 91.21 μg/L (mean: 15.63 μg/L), with majority of groundwater samples (>50%) having arsenic contents exceeding the WHO permitted limit (10 μg/L). Analysis of the Eh-pH diagram shows that As(III) species (H3AsO3) accounts for 79% of samples, whereas As (V) species (HAsO4−) accounts for the remaining. The observed arsenic enrichment in groundwater can be attributed to As desorption from iron oxide/hydroxide minerals via reductive dissolution mechanism under reducing groundwater conditions, which is supported by negative Eh values and high levels of Fe and comparatively low levels of sulphate and nitrate.

Distribution of Genotypes of Hepatitis C Virus Studied in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Uttarakhand, India: A Retrospective Study

Introduction: With more than one million cases of Hepatitis C viral infection reported annually, it has become a major global problem. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is classified into 7 genotypes and 67 subtypes. Various genotypes show a wide geographical distribution worldwide. Genotypes 1 and 3 are the most common genotypes reported from India. There is minimal data available on the distribution and frequency of HCV genotypes in Uttarakhand. Aim: This three years retrospective study was undertaken to find out the distribution pattern of HCV genotypes among HCV- infected patients attending a tertiary care hospital in this Sub- Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Materials and Methods: A total of 306 samples were tested for HCV genotyping in 3 years duration i.e., January 2018 to December 2020 at the Molecular Laboratory of Shri Guru Ram Rai Institute of Medical and Health sciences and associated Shri Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Dehradun. Genotyping was performed using HCV genotype specific Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay on Rotor-Gene Q using TRUPCR HCV Genotyping Kit (3B BlackBio Biotech India Ltd.,) as per manufacturer’s instructions. This test kit detects HCV genotypes 1, 1a, 2 (2a/ 2b), 3, 4, 5a, and 6. Results: Genotype 3 (72.7%) was the commonest genotype detected, followed by genotype 1 (13%), genotype 1a (6.25%) and genotype 4 (2.8%). Genotype 3 was the most dominant genotype in all the 3 years of the study. Two cases of genotype 5a (1.13%) and three cases of genotype 6 (1.7%) were also detected in our study. We also detected a case of mixed infection by genotype 1 and genotype 6. Conclusion: The most common genotype detected was three during the study period. Detection of genotype 5a and 6 ascertained the impact of interstate migration of people.

Mathematical modelling for the phosphate and nitrate carrying capacity of dams in Uttarakhand

The Himalayan State of Uttarakhand has abundant natural water resources and 98 Hydro Electric Power Project (HEP’s) have been constructed, 25 are under construction and, 336 are planned for the future. The water bodies of these HEP’s can also be utilized for other purposes besides electric power generation. To conserve the endemic aquatic biodiversity, it is necessary to understand the phosphate and nitrate dynamics of these water bodies. As there are several HEP’s on a single river and the human population around them, water bodies have changed drastically during the last decade. In this study, we have calculated the phosphate and nitrate load-carrying capacity of six dams in the Uttarakhand state of India using the Vollen-Weider mathematical model modified by Dillon, Rigler and Beveridge. We have also measured the phosphate & nitrate content of these water bodies to confirm if our modelling methods confirmed with actual finding of sampling sites. The phosphate and nitrate carrying capacity of these six dams were found to be in the range of 0.155 mg/l to 0.557 mg/l and 0.6 mg/l to 1.3 mg/l. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in Uttarakhand that addresses the phosphate and nitrate carrying capacity using a mathematical model.

Hydrological modelling of Bhagirathi River basin using HEC-HMS

River basins around the world are better understood through hydrological models. However, the development and application of hydrological models, particularly under the influence of climate change, is a daunting task. The present research describes the simulation of streamflows in the Bhagirathi River basin using HEC-HMS hydrological model. This subbasin is a part of the Ganga basin and is situated in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India. The Tehri dam reservoir is a seasonally regulated reservoir, and changes in the hydrological regime of the river basin would necessitate changes in its operational strategies. The HEC-HMS model is simulated for single and three-year time windows from 2010 to 2015, including calibration and validation of the model. Results of the simulation indicated a close agreement between the observed and simulated data. The efficiency of the HEC-HMS model in simulating the streamflows at the outlet of Tehri has clearly been demonstrated in this research.

Butterfly diversity and abundance in a sub-tropical wetland environment of Shyamlatal, Western Himalaya

Shyamlatal, a natural rain-fed wetland located at an elevation of 1300m in Champawat District, owes its prime conservation value in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India. Because there is a scarcity of data on bio-resources that are critical to ecological functioning, the present study documented the species composition and seasonal patterns in richness and abundance of butterflies for their future management and conservation in a wetland environment of the Shyamlatal. A record of 64 species and 45 genera under six butterfly families was made from the catchment area of watershed and surrounding forests surveyed during 2016 to 2018. Nymphalidae with 28 species over 45.84% of the total individuals was the most dominant taxonomic group of butterflies. Species on conservation priority were rare (17.18% species), habitat specific (18.75% species), legally protected (7.81% species) and endemic (20.31% species) butterflies of the Himalaya. The overall species richness and diversity of butterflies varied across seasons and the high similarity in butterfly composition was observed during summer and autumn. Results provided baseline information on the importance of mosaic of vegetation in sustaining rich butterfly diversity around the wetland, which must be managed and conserved for maintaining ecological health and integrity of the region. The results also revealed that human activities have negative consequences on butterfly diversity in the study area.

Study of Urban Growth Dynamics Using Global Human Settlement Layer Data Set: Uttarakhand, India

Due to remote sensing-derived time-series geospatial data sets of built-up area, settlement typologies are becoming increasingly available in public domain. The present study aims to study the urban growth dynamics in Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India, for the last four decades, using open and freely available Global Human Settlement Layer data sets. The growth dynamics was analysed based on factors like increase in built-up area, hot spot analysis and settlement typologies. The results indicate a highly skewed and unbalanced pattern of urban growth, especially after the formation of Uttarakhand State in year 2000. Most of the urban growth process is confined to foothill cites, while in the hill towns there is a stagnated urban growth. The study emphasizes the applicability of GHSL data sets in analysing the urban growth process in Indian conditions where time-series geospatial data are often lacking.

A MULTI PARAMETRIC MICRO-LEVEL VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR MOUNTAIN HABITAT: A CASE EXAMPLE FROM BHILANGANA BLOCK, UTTARAKHAND HIMALAYA, INDIA

Abstract. Although vulnerability is a relatively simple concept reflecting the degree of harm or adverse impacts on an individual, group or a system due to hazards, its implementation is rather complex due to underlying social, economic and physical dimensions of vulnerability along with coping capacity. This complex problem is addressed through a multi hazard vulnerability assessment model at a smallest human habitat i.e., village level in Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India. The model can be effectively upscaled to higher administrative levels to present a multi-scalar view of the state of vulnerability in one of the worst disaster affected regions in India. It was tested for Bhilangana block of Uttarakhand state (India) set in multi-hazard prone North-west Himalaya. The analysis included elements of population, buildings and road infrastructure measured across dimensions of physical, social and economic conditions. A total of 32 factors were used to define vulnerability; data was normalized and aggregated to obtain a single index value for each village. Each component and overall comparative vulnerability were estimated using k-means clustering, where natural clusters of villages with similar vulnerability emerged as one class. Results show that remotely located villages like Pinswar, Gainwali, Banoli and Gangi exhibit highest vulnerability to multi-hazards. Least vulnerable villages are clustered around local business or tourist centres. The results highlight the spatial variation of vulnerability and its causative factors which are crucial for introducing appropriate policy measures to strengthen villages that are high on vulnerability parameters.

Molecular data suggest population expansion and high level of gene flow in the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus; Nymphalidae: Danainae)

In the present study, we sequenced the individuals of the Danaus chrysippus from the different altitudinal ranges in the western Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India and compared with other global published data across its distribution range using the cytochrome oxidase c subunit-I (COI). Among the sequences generated in this study, we observed total six haplotypes with intra-species sequence divergence of 0.001–0.009. Whereas the combined data generated a total of 24 haplotypes. The genetic diversity and neutrality test indices suggested overall population expansion of the species. This has also been supported by the MJ Network as it shows the star-like topology and formation of one core haplotype with maximum frequency distribution to the multiple locations. Whereas, the phylogenetic tree shows mixing of the haplotype from the different locations to the same clade. Haplotype arrangement in both phylogenetic tree and MJ Network is not clustered as per their geographic affinity, which suggests incomplete lineage shorting and recent population expansion or colonizations to the new area.

Examining the Role of ICT on Financial Inclusion in World's Biggest Public Employment Programme in Uttarakhand, India

This study examines how deployment of ICT in public employment programme is improving egovernance making and helping the workforce to access banking services for receiving their wages. The study draws on field work done among 118 MGNREGA beneficiaries in Chamoli district, located up in the Himalayan State of Uttarakhand. The beneficiaries of the 100 days employment guarantee scheme are finding work only for 36 days. The compulsory routing of wage payments through bank and post offices have enabled inclusion in the banking process, however, these accounts are not being used beyond savings and withdrawals. The study recommends maintaining guaranteed employment to a minimum of 100 days, reducing delays in wage payment to a maximum of two weeks compared to one year at present and introduce multiple layers of checking details of beneficiaries against available personal identification documents to reduce the phenomenon of ghost clients.

<b>A new distribution record of the European Free-tailed Bat <I>Tadarida teniotis</I> (Chiroptera: Molossidae) from the western Himalaya, India</b>

The distribution of the European Free-tailed Bat Tadarida teniotis extends from southern Europe and northern Africa to Myanmar. In India it is known only from Bihar, West Bengal and Kerala. This study records the species for the first time in the western Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Echolocation calls were found to be higher in frequency and shorter in duration than reported in previous studies. Extensive acoustic surveys are recommended to assess the distribution of this species in India.

Re-Linking Governance of Energy with Livelihoods and Irrigation in Uttarakhand, India

Hydropower is often termed “green energy” and proffered as an alternative to polluting coal-generated electricity for burgeoning cities and energy-insecure rural areas. India is the third largest coal producer in the world; it is projected to be the largest coal consumer by 2050. In the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India, over 450 hydroelectric power schemes are proposed or are under development. Hydropower projects ranging from micro hydro (run-of-the-river systems with generating capacity up to 100 kW) to large reservoirs (storage systems up to 2000 MW) such as the Tehri Dam are in various stages of planning, construction or implementation. Run-of-the-river hydropower projects are being developed in Uttarakhand in order to avoid some of the costs to local communities created by large dams. Stakeholders in this rapid hydropower expansion include multiple actors with often diverging sets of interests. The resulting governance challenges are centered on tradeoffs between local electricity and revenue from the sale of hydropower, on the one hand, and the impacts on small-scale irrigation systems, riparian-corridor ecosystem services, and other natural resource-based livelihoods, on the other. We focus on the Bhilangana river basin, where water dependent livelihoods differentiated by gender include farming, fishing, livestock rearing and fodder collection. We examine the contradictions inherent in hydropower governance based on the interests of local residents and other stakeholders including hydropower developers, urban and other regional electricity users, and state-level policymakers. We use a social justice approach applied to hydropower projects to examine some of the negative impacts, especially by location and gender, of these projects on local communities and then identify strategies that can safeguard or enhance livelihoods of women, youth, and men in areas with hydropower projects, while also maintaining critical ecosystem services. By assessing the Bhilangana basin case, we also offer hydropower–livelihoods–irrigation nexus lessons for headwater regions across the Himalayas and globally.

Corrigendum: Plant barcoding of a wildlife sanctuary across a wide climatic zone, Uttarakhand, India

Background: Earlier, we successfully worked on two plant DNA barcode projects, one genera specific and the other one involving tree species from a province. In recent efforts, we are leading a consortium of six institutes of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to barcode plant species across India, where each institute is focusing on a respective phytogeographic location. As a part of this project, CSIR-NBRI is involved in DNA barcoding of a wild life sanctuary, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, in the west Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Results: We have collected 238 angiosperms, 270 bryophytes, 255 pteridophytes, 265 lichens, and 154 algae species from the sanctuary, spanning a wide climatic range, mainly due to a steep altitudinal gradient (1300–6315m.a.s.l.). So far we have analyzed 178 accessions of angiosperm plants from this hot spot using the four standard plant barcode loci. MatK was not used further after initial failure in PCR amplifications. PCR success ranged from 88% to 95%, trnH–psbA being the lowest and rbcL being the highest. ITS exhibited the lowest rate of sequencing success, while trnH–psbA exhibited the highest. ITS and trnH–psbA exhibited 90% success in species identification. Among the non-flowering plants, 75 accessions of lichen have been analyzed using ITS. PCR and sequencing success was 75% and 80%, respectively. Contamination with other fungi was a major problem faced during sequencing of lichen samples. Barcoding of other lower group of plant species from this region will be carried out in the near future. Under the consortium, our main aim is to develop a plant barcode data base of high-value medicinal plants. Significance: Barcoding the flora, including a lower group of plant species of a particular hot spot, spanning a wide range of climatic zones,will certainly impact on conservation, policymaking, and environmental protectionbydifferent government agencies. The study will also help test the efficacy in resolving species identification in a specific geographic region.

Impact of Conservation and Development on the Vicinity of Nanda Devi National Park in the North India

Both the hydropower and the conservation sectors are concentrating their focus on the Himalayas, which have high hydropower potential and rich bio-cultural diversity. The aim of this present study, carried out in villages adjacent to the Nanda Devi National Park in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, is to understand the linkages between conservation- and development-induced displacement and the process of designing compensation packages for the local community. The study also examines the various gender-specific impacts of displacement, and the results suggest significant gender-specific differences regarding the impact of displacement in critical respects. The findings further indicate that, despite an early recommendation to do so, no impact assessment study had been conducted prior to the notification of the area as a national park. Furthermore, there appears to be no systematic linkage between the compensatory schemes and the grievances of the impacted communities.

Devising an electronically supported heritage conservation method for the Valley of Flowers in the Indian Himalayas

ABSTRACTThe Valley of Flowers is a national park in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India that was classified as a world natural heritage site in 1988. Around 1982, its maximum carrying capacity was fixed at 60 persons per day, which has been called excessive by experts and observers, given the extremely fragile and immensely valuable nature of the Valley's heritage. This, in monetary terms, can be put at millions of dollars, and is considerably more viewed in terms of knowledge of breeding medicinal plants in cold climates that are being affected by climate change, which its microclimate and ecology present. Given the state's poor resources and the fact that tourism is one of the most important industries for development and conservation, this research assesses the heritage value of the Valley and develops a programme for conservation, including a computerised program for permits, whose value can easily be raised from the current paltry Rs 150 per person. Accompanied by fallow periods and marketing through the Internet to aim for educated tourists, the program ensures that the maximum carrying capacity of the Valley is never exceeded, thus spreading out the number of tourists over its 3.5-month season, while allowing flexibility in booking for chance groups and small families that can pay more.

Natural Disaster and Women’s Mental Health

Based on a case study in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, this article examines women’s vulnerability to the June 2013 floods in constructing mental health outcomes. By means of qualitative research and diverse vulnerability approaches such as entitlement, livelihood and political economy, the study draws attention to the initial well-being, livelihood resilience, self-protection, societal protection and social capital of women and underlines how their lack of capacity to avoid, cope with and recover from disasters increased mental health exposure to risk. To this point, women’s vulnerability and mental disorders are reciprocally related to each other. In conclusion, while physical exposure to the flood was a necessary element, it was women’s pre-existing symptoms and developmental processes that were most influential in generating mental health consequences after the disaster.

Toxic metal ions in water and their prevalence in Uttarakhand, India

Developmental activities, geological reasons and mixing of industrial wastes are responsible for the deteriorating quality of surface and ground water in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. The drinking water sources of 13 districts of Uttarakhand have been assessed for the presence of four toxic metal ions (arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead). The health aspects of the four metal ions have also been reviewed according to the prescribed limits set up by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and World Health Organization (WHO). The present study reveals the absence of arsenic at almost all stations. Cadmium has been found only at Rudrapur, whereas chromium is found to be present in more than prescribed limits, in Kolti, Mussoorie and Dehradun. Significant presence of lead in the six districts of the state is indicative of the fact that proper management strategy of toxic metal ion remediation is required. Chromium and lead have exceeded the prescribed limit in 1.3 and 4.5% samples, respectively. However, as per BIS standard, cadmium is higher than the prescribed limit in 0.6% samples but according to the WHO standard, cadmium has exceeded in about 26% samples. Out of the total 156 samples analyzed, 6.4 and 33.3% samples have been found to possess the toxic metal ions in more than the prescribed limits as per BIS and WHO guidelines, respectively.

A systems approach for analyzing vegetative and soil degradation in Arnigad micro-watershed of Indian Himalayan region

This study analyzes the vegetative and soil degradation, measured as biomass and soil loss, for Arnigad micro-watershed located in Indian Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, in systems framework by using dynamic linear programming bio-economic model. The focus is at investigating the effects of alternate policy regimes, i.e., introduction of improved energy sources for cooking along with substitution of existing local livestock breeds with improved breed, reduction in human population growth and introduction of high yielding varieties of main crops including paddy, maize and wheat. The model horizon extended over a period of 25 years, i.e., from 2006 to 2030. It was found that the model scenario incorporating increased use of improved energy sources along with substitution of local cows by improved cows could be the most effective policy option in reducing vegetative and soil degradation. The vegetative biomass density declined to 19.76% compared to 35.24% in the BASE scenario and soil erosion loss was also lowered by 29.13%. Also, the reduction of population growth rate to half of the BASE scenario led to minor improvements in degradation. Introduction of high yielding varieties of main crops slightly increased vegetative degradation but reduced soil loss (8.35%) with respect to the BASE scenario. Such a phenomenon could be explained in terms of changed crop mix resulting in reduced amount of crop by-products requiring increased lopping of tree branches for animal fodder. The policy option of the increased use of improved energy sources along with substitution of improved breed of cows resulted in 9.58% higher income. Introduction of high yielding varieties of crops led to 1.92% increase in income, but the income decreased by 1.25 % when population growth was reduced to half. The usefulness of the model lies in analyzing the systems behavior in its entirety where the results can predict the possible direction of change as a result of manipulation in alternate economic regimes.