The third edition of SDC Foundation’s publication, Making Molehills of Mountains: Communities and Constitutional Rights in the Times of Climate Crisis, was launched at the Doon Library and Research Centre, Dehradun. The publication presents a comprehensive analysis of 98 key climate-related disasters reported across Uttarakhand in 2025, drawing upon 12 monthly reports prepared under the Uttarakhand Disaster and Accident Analysis Initiative (UDAAI). The edition examines recurring disasters in the state and explores their social, ecological, developmental and governance implications.
The event was graced by Sanjeev Chopra, former Director of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and senior IAS officer, who highlighted the growing importance of integrating climate concerns, community voices and constitutional rights into Uttarakhand’s development discourse. The publication identifies five major concerns emerging from the state’s recurring disasters: administrative delays and fragmented governance in disaster prevention, the emergence of urban and semi-urban disaster landscapes, changes in glaciers and the cryosphere, infrastructure-induced disaster risks, and the ecological burden of mass tourism.
The book also examines the legal and constitutional dimensions of development in Uttarakhand, including environmental laws and legislation, persistent migration, and the rights of communities affected by climate and environmental change. The event brought together eminent experts, academics, researchers, authors, students and representatives from several universities. Contributors including Manish Mehta, Lokesh Ohri and Gautam Kumar shared insights from their respective chapters, enriching the discussion on climate resilience, sustainable development and community rights.
Editors Prerna Raturi and Anoop Nautiyal introduced the publication and emphasised the need to mainstream climate change, community concerns and constitutional rights in the state’s development planning.
The programme was moderated by Dinesh Semwal of SDC Foundation. The enthusiastic participation of faculty members, researchers and students from leading universities added significant academic depth to the occasion. The launch marks an important step towards strengthening evidence-based public discourse on climate change, disaster resilience, environmental governance and constitutional rights in Uttarakhand.
