How does unplanned development cause ecological imbalance?
Development in technological sense involves the coming up of dams, building of roads, tourism and much more. Overlooking sustainable development and stressing on unplanned development has devastating consequences for future generations.
Mining and other such operations give rise to landslides, which block traffic on the roads and sometimes form lakes by temporary blockade of rivers. When the water gives out pressure, these burst causing floods, seeping away roads; bridges; agricultural lands etc. one example is of the Alakananda flood of 1970 which happened to be a threat to highways, villages, streams, dams, agricultural land and tourists.
Industries such as the limestone industry in various places have caused severe damage to the environment. This is because the processing of limestone involves the emission of CO2, CO and SO2 gases. The damage includes loss of topsoil, lowering of the water table, deposition of dust on plant surfaces, emission of gases from the kilns etc.
Development is also showcased through the coming up of dams like the Tehri dam. This dam had submerged fertile areas that were so scarce in the region, and stands on a seismically active zone having many thrust and faults that can give rise to an earthquake of 8.2 magnitudes. Thus resulting into an ecological imbalance.
The amount of disturbance that traffic can cause to the composition of vegetation has always been ignored. When roads are built in the mountains they create a lot of disturbance. Felling of protective vegetation is one important part of the construction of hill roads. This destroys vegetation and causes severe erosion. Land use in general can also give rise to landslides. Therefore, yet again there is imbalance in the ecological existence.
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