- Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Securi...
- The worst situation of Himalaya and nuclear waste
Nepal is in between two emerging super power China and India . It`s 90-% trade is with India and it imports thousands of dollars of clothes. cosmetics and fruits from China too.Their high thrust for energy have attracted them to Himalaya which has huge stock of water and minerals. The temporary short stock of uranium can`t fulfill their needs,so the Himalaya is a best option for energy-Hydro power. They can permanently dump their nuclear waste by deep boring. Now the global warming effect is seen in rapidly melting Himalaya. Last year Nepal and India faced a dangerous flood due to the melting Himalaya caused hundred of deaths and huge damage.The temporary method of dumping nuclear waste "leaching and open pit"was used in the past and even one of Tibetan river was also used for such job. Some of rivers enter Neapl fron Tibetan side and flow towards India. The radio nuclide of nuclear waste sites usually absorbe by sorrounding vegetation. The air and water may polluted due to such temporary method. Many Nepalese traders and tourists visit Tibetan cities and they inhale or ingest the radionuclide for life time. There is no test or procedure on border entry points. Nepal will face a health hazard of extreme fever, birth defects, misscarriage and cancer in future. The Indian states are also facing energy crisis of long hour load sheding., so India is interested to use Nepal`s hydro power alone. There is a silent anger between China and India for Tibetan exile govt. Indian analysts empasized on the importance to rebuild relation and trust with neighbors to reduce Chinese influences. Today India has no good relation with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives and others as in the past. The anti India sentiments is found in Pahadi community of urban areas-Nepal due to the ethnic cleansing of Pahadis during the Madhesi movement in southern Nepal in the past. Now the BJP a Hindu based party won the parliament election with majority and became a large party, so the new strategy, polarization and conflicts will be seen in future.The emerging super powers should rethink for demilitarization and reducing the nuclear test and permanent waste dumping. No country should be allowed to dump nuclear waste in Himalaya or close to Himalaya. The SAARC and ASEAN seems to be run in trust building phase,so it should not be limited in paper works only. There must be a concrete solution for permanent and safe nuclear waste dumping.The countries having Himalaya range must join a common platefarm for diologue and agreement. Due to the climate change the rice and maize production will be reduced by 20 -40 % in India(2080). The food porduction of China will also reduce. The dependent cuntries like Nepal wil face big food crisis. At presnet Nepal is facing various problems of health, food, and environment. It has big pressure in forest due to the huge migration from India (flood and nundenan).The Himalaya is badly impacted by the rapid deforestation and global warming.The US should have new comprehensive security architecture for Asia and Africa. The south /East China sea or Indian ocean should not be the cause for serious conflicts in the entire region, The preventive measure for nuclear test and handling must be discussed as a serious security concern in South East Asia.