The Sikkim floods had devastating consequences as the death toll continued to rise and the region grappled with the aftermath of the disaster. The flash floods were triggered by a cloudburst near South Lhonak lake in North Sikkim, causing it to overflow and leading to a surge in water levels in the Teesta River. The flash flood then swept through downstream areas, damaging infrastructure, and flooding towns and villages along its path.
As of now, the death toll stands at 21, with 103 people, including 15 jawans, still missing. The impact of the floods was extensive, with 13 bridges being washed away and the national highway NH-10, which connects Sikkim to the rest of the country, suffering significant damage. More than 20,000 people have been affected by the floods, and the situation remains grim.
The South Lhonak lake, which was the source of the flood, is a glacial lake formed by the melting Lhonak glacier. The overflowing of glacial lakes and the resulting floods downstream are known as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Some activists have raised concerns about the role played by the Teesta Stage III hydropower project in exacerbating the impact of the floods. They argue that the hydel power project might have intensified the damage caused by the natural disaster.
In the wake of these floods, the Central Water Commission is closely monitoring 10 glacial lakes in Sikkim for potential overflow and breach. This disaster serves as a stark reminder of the 2013 flash flood in Kedarnath, which was also caused by a GLOF.
In another disheartening development, global internet freedom has experienced a decline for the 13th consecutive year, according to a report by Freedom House. The report highlights the worsening environment for online human rights in 29 countries, with only 20 countries registering net gains. Titled ‘Freedom on the Net 2023: The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence,’ the report raises concerns about the increasing use of artificial intelligence by governments to censor content and spread disinformation.
Iran witnessed the sharpest rise in digital repression, with authorities shutting down internet services and blocking popular platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to suppress anti-government protests. China continues to be ranked as the world’s worst environment for internet freedom for the ninth consecutive year, with Myanmar being the second most repressive country in this regard.
The report specifically highlights the adverse impact on Indian democracy, stating that the government’s expanding censorship regime is creating an uneven playing field by silencing criticism and independent reporting on the ruling party. With general elections scheduled for 2024, the report underscores the potential repercussions of this growing trend of online repression in India.
On a more positive note, the Nobel Prize winners for various fields have been announced by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. This year’s laureates have made significant contributions to disease control, technological advancements, and subversive literature. The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel is yet to be announced on October 9.
Shifting focus to the Indian economy, the growth in gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues has slowed to a 27-month low of 10.2% in September. However, there has been a 2.3% improvement in collections compared to August. The Central GST, State GST, Integrated GST, and cess revenues contributed to the overall GST collection, which crossed ₹1.60 lakh crore mark for the fourth time in the current fiscal year.
While overall revenue growth remained positive, certain states experienced below-average growth rates. Manipur recorded the highest growth of 47% among states, followed by Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana, Odisha, Jharkhand, Delhi, Meghalaya, Assam, and West Bengal reported slower growth rates.
Finally, India’s manufacturing activity showed signs of a slowdown in September as the S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dipped to 57.5 from 58.6 the previous month. Despite the slight decline, overall operating conditions continued to improve for the 27th consecutive month. The survey also highlighted stable supply-chain conditions and weaker input price inflation. On the other hand, the services sector gained momentum in September, with new orders rising at the second-fastest rate since June 2010.
In conclusion, the Sikkim floods have caused widespread devastation, internet freedom has declined globally, the Nobel Prize winners have been announced, India’s GST revenue growth has slowed, and manufacturing activity has shown signs of a slowdown. These developments highlight the challenges and dynamics shaping various aspects of society, economy, and the environment.
