Climate Change And Compound Disasters In Uttarakhand - A Crisis Lacking Adequate Policy And Legal Accountability?

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Disha Litauriya, Ph.D. Scholar Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh)

ABSTRACT

This paper critically examines the escalating crisis of climate change and its role in aggravating natural disasters in India, with a focused case study on Uttarakhand which is currently in 2025 highest disaster prone area. Despite the existence of legal frameworks such as the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and various climate action plans, current policies appear insufficient in effectively mitigating climate induced displacement and recurrent disasters. Contributing factors such as deforestation, unregulated construction for tourism infrastructure, including roads, hotels, and settlements in high-risk zones, destabilizes the terrain, this study assesses the adequacy of India’s legal and regulatory mechanism in addressing the intersection of climate change and disaster risk, evaluates judicial responses and identifies critical gaps in policy implementation. Here in this paper what is to be seen is to what extent does India’s existing legal framework and judicial intervention particularly in Uttarakhand, suffice to prevent and mitigate the compounded crises posed by climate change and aggravated disasters, and what legal reforms are imperative to establish a sustainable and accountable disaster regime? The paper advocate for strengthened, integrated legal measures prioritizing prevention, sustainable development and protection of vulnerable communities.

Keywords: Climate change, disaster prone area, judicial response, legal reform, post-disaster rehabilitation, policy enforcement challenges, sustainable development

CLIMATE CHANGE AND COMPOUND DISASTERS IN UTTARAKHAND - A CRISIS LACKING ADEQUATE POLICY AN.

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