SDC Foundation launched the second edition of its book Making Molehills of Mountains: Tales of Uttarakhand's Climate Crises and an Uncertain Development Model at the Doon Library and Research Centre, Dehradun. The event brought together experts, environmentalists, policymakers, and civil society leaders for a discussion on Uttarakhand’s growing vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters.
Delivering the keynote address, former Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, Shri N.S. Napalchyal, stated that except for tsunamis, every major disaster impacts Uttarakhand. He emphasized the need to integrate traditional knowledge with modern science to reduce disaster impacts and criticized the unscientific cutting and blasting of mountains, calling it a major contributor to the state's ecological fragility.
Supreme Court advocate Rajiv Dutta raised concerns over environmentally destructive projects being undertaken in Uttarakhand. He shared insights into his environmental litigation efforts through public interest petitions filed in the NGT and Supreme Court.
Aditya Pundir, Director of The Climate Reality Project (South Asia), stressed that the impact of climate change in Uttarakhand’s Himalayan belt is nearly double the global average. He highlighted the threats of deforestation and forest fires, and called for solutions such as the promotion of solar energy, improved internet connectivity, and better quality of life to curb distress migration from hill areas.
The second edition of the book was dedicated to the memory of Gandhian and environmentalist Smt. Vimla Bahuguna. Her son, social activist Rajeev Nayan Bahuguna, addressed the gathering and underscored the urgency of environmental conservation, stating that without a healthy planet, all other pursuits become meaningless.
Authors and contributors to the book - including Dr. Mayank Badola (Chief Medical Officer, LBSNAA), Gautam Kumar, Sara Garg, Mahika Fartyal, and Dr. Arunima Naithani - spoke about their respective chapters and shared firsthand experiences and insights on Uttarakhand's changing climate and development pressures.
The event began with a welcome note by Chandrashekhar Tiwari from the Doon Library. Editors Anoop Nautiyal and Prerna Raturi of SDC Foundation shared the thought process behind the book and its documentation approach. Publisher Abhimanyu Gehlot extended a vote of thanks.
The event also featured inspiring success stories of three women from Uttarakhand working in the field of environment and self-employment. The program was conducted by Dinesh Semwal from SDC Foundation.
Prominent attendees included Bihar Legislative Council member Devesh Kumar, former PCCF Jai Raj, Dr. SP Sati, Major General (Retd.) Sanjay Sharma, Dr. Piyoosh Rautela, Alka Kukreti, Jagmohan Mehdiratta, Madhu Pathak, Dr. Aparna Kathuria, Tania Saili Bakshi, and several other academics, young researchers, activists, and community leaders.
The event reflected the growing urgency to rethink Uttarakhand’s development trajectory and build a more sustainable, resilient future for the Himalayan state.
