The concerning developments from Uttarkashi district of Uttarkhand have worried
the entire country. Incident of the collapse of under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel
and 41 workers being trapped inside have shook the nation. It’s been two-weeks since the
workers are trapped inside and reports suggest that it may take a few more days to
complete the rescue operation. These developments have brought to fore certain issues
worthy of consideration to prevent such a mishap and to deal with the situation justly.
The workers who are trapped inside for 14 days have all come from poor backgrounds
with little social security. Their poverty compels them to undertake jobs in such hazardous
and unsafe environments. The tunnel collapse fortunately did not claim any life otherwise
bread-winners of families would be cruelly snatched away. It’s our duty to protect our
workforce from any seen or unforeseen uncertainty in such a situation. Therefore, I urge
you to take immediate steps and impress upon all stakeholders and employers to
mandatorily ensure generous insurance amounts to workers in hazardous and dangerous
surroundings.
The second issue that has surfaced is the way of development in the fragile
Himalayan ecosystem. The Himalayas are young and still-evolving mountains with
potential of great volatility. The climate of entire sub-continent is dependent upon the
Himalayas and tempering with the natural balance can have disastrous consequences, as
was seen recently in the sinking town of Joshimath. In this context, development activities
should be undertaken only after careful study of the region and without harming nature. I
hope these issues concerning the lives of our workers and the Himalayan ecosystem will
find your attention.