Waiting for Snow Fall in Thimphu

Thimphu is about 2,460 meters above sea level, surrounded by high hills which are more than 3000 meters above sea level. It lies along the Wangchhu river that runs north-south of Thimphu valley. More than 2,000 households and more than hundred thousand population, Thimphu has grown from a small village like town in early 80’s to one of the busiest and largest city in Bhutan. More than 30, 000 cars plying daily over the city roads and averagely over 100 new constructions being approved annually, city has been challenged with so many problems like traffic congestion and environment degradation.

If we look at some of the pictures back in 80’s of Thimphu, we could see major portion of land being used for cultivation. Now most of these cultivatable portions of land have been developed into concrete buildings and roads constructed every nook and corner of the city, it is very difficult to maintain green areas within city. But however the government of Bhutan always work with a mission to take up the "Green Socio-Economic Development" which is a development without compromising environment in any ways. With that objective, Bhutan has been taking every measure to maintain the sustainability of the pristine natural environment. In a similar way, Thimphu City has been spending certain portion of its capital subsidy in greening the city. Every year a large number of saplings are being planted in every open spaces and many region within the city are identified as environment precincts which is a "no development zone"  

Despite these initiatives, it has been a challenge to control development that jeopardizes the environment. Developments are driven by the needs and it is a mandate for the government to serve the needs of the citizens. The effects of these have been already being experienced with untimely rainfall, drying up of water sources and late or no snow fall. Thimphu used to experience early snow falls during the month Januaries before. Snow fall is one of the exciting moments for young and old. It gives immense pleasure and is also considered as sign of good harvest back in the village. Children go out to play and adults stay inside nearby heaters talking of their past experiences over a cup of hot butter tea or some over a glass of Ara (Locally brewed wine). The day of first snow fall is also a government holiday in Thimphu for the civil servants and school going children. This year, 2015, all the residents of Thimphu have been talking in and out about the snow fall being delayed. Many are expecting in the February month but some are complacent that last year, 2014 it also snowed in the month of March for the second time, so they are still expecting the same this time.

Some people are talking about the climate change effects the reason for late or no snow fall. Even if some nation fights for climate change, they can still face the consequences of climate change of the world. Climate Change is not something we can escape but we can put forth some measures to curb the effects. If the climate change has to be stopped completely, the development in the world has to be stopped or a population growth has to be halted. This can’t be done since the needs for the people have to be served as discussed earlier. But we can neutralize the effect of developments by ensuring the balance between the developmental activities and the environment conservation. If we cut one tree, we have to replace it by planting two trees. This is how we have to manage the use of natural resources sustain-ably.

  

We have to think about our next generation. What we have been enjoying today is the fruit of what we have received from our ancestors. Now it is our responsibilities to hand over the same resources that we enjoy today to our next generation. As a result of our greedy activities, I fear that the time will come for our younger generations when they will just hear the word snow and will not able to experience it. Therefore, Bhutan joins with other nations of the world in fighting the climate change and I would like to urge all individual in this world to at least do not contribute to climate when you can’t contribute to the fight against climate change.

LET’S SAVE THIS MOTHER EARTH.