Urbanization Challenges in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), Trichophyton indotineae, Exemption from Clinical Trials in India

(General Studies I – Society Section – Role of Women and Women’s Organization, Population and Associated Issues, Poverty and Developmental issues, Urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

General Studies III – Environment Section – Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment. Disaster and Disaster Management.)

• The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), which spans 11 states and two Union Territories, has witnessed rapid urban growth, with a decadal urbanization rate exceeding 40% between 2011 and 2021.
• Unlike urban areas in the plains, the towns and cities of the IHR face distinct environmental and infrastructural issues due to their mountainous terrain, fragile ecosystems, and vulnerability to climate change.

Issues and Reasons for the Crisis –

1. Inadequate Urban Planning and Infrastructure
2. Himalayan towns like Srinagar, Guwahati, and Shimla struggle to provide basic civic amenities, including sanitation, solid and liquid waste management, and reliable water supply.
3. The conventional urban planning models, primarily designed for the plains, fail to accommodate the hilly terrain of the IHR.
4. This mismatch leads to infrastructural inefficiencies and environmental degradation.
5. For instance, the planning institutions in these regions operate with a 75% human resource deficit, severely hampering effective governance​
6. Uncontrolled Urban Expansion
7. The rapid expansion of urban areas into peripheral regions has led to the encroachment of forests, open spaces, and watersheds.
8. In Srinagar, there was a 75.58% increase in built-up real estate between 2000 and 2020, accompanied by a 25% reduction in water bodies.
9. This unplanned expansion has strained local resources and exacerbated environmental challenges, such as increased pollution and reduced water availability​.
10. Environmental Degradation and Climate Vulnerability
11. Changing precipitation patterns and rising temperatures have resulted in water scarcity, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity.
12. These impacts are worsened by high-intensity tourism, which often lacks sustainable practices.
13. The construction of inappropriate infrastructure, poorly designed roads, and inadequate waste management systems have contributed to the degradation of natural resources​
14. Water Resilience Issues
15. Many towns in the region, such as Shimla and Mussoorie, face severe water shortages due to infrastructure limitations, high tourist influxes, and the degradation of recharge zones.
16. The lack of adaptive governance mechanisms for managing water resources in these mountainous areas further complicates the situation, leaving cities vulnerable to floods, droughts, and other climate-related events​.

Way Forward –

1. Context-Specific Urban Planning
2. Addressing the urbanization challenges in the IHR requires a shift from traditional land-use principles to more context-specific planning strategies.
3. Every town in the IHR should undergo comprehensive mapping to identify geological and hydrological vulnerabilities.
4. This data should guide the development of resilient infrastructure that can withstand climate-induced disasters.
5. Engaging local communities in the planning process is crucial to ensure that development initiatives align with the region’s unique ecological and socio-cultural context​
6. Strengthening Urban Governance
7. Enhancing the capacity of urban local bodies in the IHR is essential.
8. This includes increasing staffing levels, improving training programs, and ensuring that planning institutions are equipped to handle the unique challenges of the region. Financial sustainability is another critical aspect.
9. The Finance Commission should consider increasing intergovernmental transfers to support the high costs of urban services in the IHR, particularly for water supply and waste management​
10. Promoting Sustainable Tourism
11. The tourism sector in the IHR must transition towards more sustainable practices.
12. This involves promoting ecotourism, regulating the construction of tourist infrastructure, and improving waste management systems to minimize environmental impact.
13. Protecting natural resources and preserving biodiversity should be central to all tourism-related activities​
14. Enhancing Water Resilience
15. To address the water crises in the IHR, urban centers must adopt integrated water management strategies that include the protection of recharge zones, the development of new water sources, and the repair of existing infrastructure.
16. Climate-resilient water governance systems are necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources in the region​

The Indian Himalayan Region faces a critical juncture in its urbanization journey. Without a fundamental rethinking of urban planning and governance, the negative impacts on the environment and local communities will continue to escalate. By adopting resilient, sustainable, and context-specific approaches, the IHR can manage its urban growth in a way that safeguards its unique ecosystems and ensures the well-being of its inhabitants.

• WHO recently released ‘Pathogens Prioritization: A Scientific Framework for Epidemic and Pandemic Research Preparedness’.
• The subgenus Sarbecovirus, which includes SARS-CoV-2, has been added to the recently released ‘Pathogens Prioritisation’ report. It includes 30 ‘Priority pathogens’.
• Nipah, already on the list, recently claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy in Kerala, India.
• The list also retains Ebola and Zika viruses, both classified as “high” for Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) risk.
• Maharashtra, India, is currently facing a Zika outbreak, with over 70 cases, including 26 pregnant women, reported in Pune.
• While not all are immediate threats, these pathogens have the potential to become significant problems.
• New additions to the list include the dengue virus, influenza A viruses (including the H5 subtype), and mpox, which has emerged in parts of Africa.
• Among bacteria, the list now includes those causing plague, cholera, pneumonia, dysentery, and non-typhoidal salmonella, a major cause of diarrheal diseases.
• In Southeast Asia, bacterial pathogens like Vibrio cholerae O139 (cholera) and Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 (dysentery) are priorities, alongside endemic viruses like Nipah, dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

Dig Deeper: Go through the list of all priority pathogens of WHO.

• The emergence of drug-resistant fungal infections, particularly Trichophyton indotineae, is becoming a significant health concern in India.
• This resilient dermatophyte is linked to the misuse of topical steroids.
• Trichophyton indotineae causes persistent, treatment-resistant rashes often mistaken for eczema.
• These infections can be red, scaly, and itchy, delaying effective treatment and worsening the condition.
• It has spread in near-epidemic form across the Indian subcontinent.
• It is resistant to terbinafine due to genetic mutations and shows growing resistance to itraconazole.

Dig Deeper: Read about Mucormycosis.

• The Union government has decided to waive the requirement for local clinical trials for drugs manufactured outside India if they are approved in the U.S., U.K., Japan, Australia, Canada, or the European Union.
• This move is aimed at making these drugs more accessible and affordable in the Indian market.
• The waiver applies to five categories of new drugs:
• Those for rare diseases (Orphan drug)
• Gene and cellular therapy products
• Drugs used in pandemic situations
• Drugs for special defence purposes
• Drugs with significant therapeutic advances over current standards of care.
• The government has stated that the list of eligible countries may be updated as needed.
• This decision is authorized under Rule 101 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trial Rules, 2019.

Dig Deeper:  Read about the new changes introduced by New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules in 2019.