Uttarakhand sets up first green audit
If it is implemented honestly and effectively, Uttarakhand can be saved from ecological calamity in the future. As this tragedy has shown us, unplanned construction and uncontrolled tourism contributed to the disaster in the state. But there are larger environmental issues - the mountains have limited carrying capacity and lakhs of pilgrims in areas could spell disaster. Even basic infrastructure development like road building has its own set of problems in the mountains. Now, the government wants to introduce an annual green audit or a gross environment product of its ecological resources, but the big question remains: if there is environmental damage, will the government be willing to limit economic development?
