Climate Change and Impacts
Climate change is leading to unprecedented weather conditions, increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
On July 30, Kerala's Wayanad district experienced deadly landslides due to heavy rains, killing 200 people and destroying villages.
Landslides in Kerala, especially in Wayanad, are not new, but deadly landslides have become more frequent in recent years.
Impact of Heavy Rains
The Chaliyar river's increased volume and force, due to this year's heavy rains, contributed to the landslides by carrying more debris
Heavy rains in 2020 had stripped upstream areas of plant cover, making the land more susceptible to landslides.
Areas like Idukki, Kottayam, Malappuram, and Wayanad are known for their landslide risk and are highlighted on risk maps
Inadequate Preparedness
A significant issue is the lack of advance warning and emergency preparedness for landslides in these regions.
Landslides are more common in ecologically fragile areas where soil and vegetation are not capable of withstanding intense rains.
Impact of Development Activities
Quarrying, linear infrastructure development, construction, and monocropping have compromised the natural ecosystem’s resilience.
Need for Land Use Regulations
There is a pressing need to avoid changes in land use patterns and to restore denuded areas to prevent future disasters.
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel advises against engineering projects in sensitive areas and suggests forming expert committees to evaluate project feasibility.
The challenge
Kerala faces the challenge of balancing economic development with environmental conservation, a task made more difficult by the increasing unpredictability of weather patterns
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