Addressing The Environmental Crisis In Uttarakhand: A Sociological and Ecological Analysis

Surender Kumar¹, Luis Alberto Flores Hernández², Maureen O'Sullivan³, Ingeborg Mooiweer⁴, Sama A⁵
Uttarakhand, a Himalayan state in India, is experiencing an escalating environmental crisis driven by climate change, deforestation, hydropower projects, unregulated tourism, and rapid urbanization. This research examines these crises through a sociological and ecological lens, analyzing their impact on marginalized communities, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Applying theories from environmental sociology, political ecology, and disaster studies, the study explores how structural inequalities exacerbate environmental vulnerability. Through qualitative and empirical analysis, including case studies of the Kedarnath disaster (2013), the Joshimath land subsidence (2023), and hydroelectric projects in the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi basins, this paper highlights governance failures and community resilience. Finally, it proposes policy recommendations to integrate environmental sustainability with social justice.