Ensuring that infra projects are resilient to climate change-induced extreme weather events and glacier activity is central to avoiding triggering mishaps. It will mean factoring in construction resilience. Yes, this would push up upfront costs, but it will minimise loss of lives and resources. Infra development in the region needs to balance four facets of security: economic, ecological, national and energy.
Stalling development is not an option. Developing in a manner that undermines ecological security is also not an option – ironically, also for the sake of development. But the risks must be explicitly accounted for in the design and planning. This will inform choices for appropriate designs, materials and construction methods. Balancing out competing and complementary needs will pave the way for building resilience in the system and infrastructure.