Learn lessons from Wayanad tragedy to combat climate change

THE worsening impact of calamities across the country in recent years is worrisome. The Wayanad tragedy is one such extreme case; the land could not withstand the pressure caused by a couple of factors — infrastructure development and incessant rain. For long, ecological sensitivities have not been taken into consideration in the development process. But climate change is here for real. And the severity of the problem is now playing out in the form of disasters wreaking havoc in many parts of the country. Whether the tragedy in Kerala struck because of the extreme rainfall or a lack of much-needed governance or overall ecological management required in the region, we must take responsibility for it.

The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats are rich in biodiversity, and they protect the coastlines of India running all the way from Gujarat to Kerala and from Odisha to Tamil Nadu. The ghats, which are home to many endemic species of plants and animals, regulate the local environment.
There have been several reports and debates about the sensitivity of these mountain ranges and the need to protect them. The government had set up committees for a review in this regard. The Madhav Gadgil and K Kasturirangan reports strongly recommended the need for conservation of the Western Ghats. Several suggestions were made regarding the protection of ecologically sensitive zones, such as more stringent regulations and a ban on mining, industrial and agricultural activities and construction for economic purposes, including the diversion of land. Three zones of sensitivity were demarcated. Many of these activities were said to be restricted in the high-sensitivity areas. Both reports concluded that there was a need to protect the Western Ghats. It was proposed that 50 to 75 per cent of the land would be protected, given the ecological diversity and the overall fragility of the ecosystem.
The oceans are warming. More evaporation is occurring from land as well as water, resulting in the development of deep cloud systems, which leads to heavy downpours. And that increases the likelihood of waterlogging, inundation and landslides. Many regions in the Western Ghats have been experiencing this. TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) had mentioned in its State Action Plan on Climate Change Report of 2012, submitted to the Maharashtra Government, the increase in the incidence of extreme rainfall in the Konkan region and a rise in future. The same phenomenon of rains is again being witnessed down south. Rains normally strike Kerala in the first week of June and then head towards other parts of the country.
The Wayanad tragedy was a result of the confluence of various factors — the formation of deep clouds over the Arabian Sea, cloudbursts, saturation of the soil, encroachments in fragile areas and ecological damage, to name a few. The rains have been unusual and extreme — over 150 mm of rainfall was experienced in the region in a single day. One of the consequences of the heavy rainfall was the landslides.
Landslides occur as a result of factors that increase down-slope forces and reduce the strength of the earth materials composing the slope. These movements occur when gravitational forces exceed the strength of the material, triggering landslides through rainfall, snowmelt, changes in water levels, stream erosion, groundwater fluctuations, earthquakes, volcanic activity or human disturbances. Human activities significantly contribute to landslides, which often occur due to inadequate grading during construction, poorly planned drainage alterations and disturbances from previous landslides.
Nearly 15 per cent of the area in the Western Ghats is considered to be prone to landslides. While physical causes cannot always be eliminated, the risk can be mitigated through detailed geologic investigations, sound engineering practices and stringent land-use management regulations. Unfortunately, these aspects are often not taken into consideration during infrastructural development planning. This has resulted in more than 300 deaths, and many residents are still missing. The loss of property and infrastructure has displaced people, leaving them homeless and affecting their access to basic services.
Human-induced landslides are often preventable with proper site investigation and adherence to engineering and regulatory standards. Effective mitigation requires a thorough understanding of both natural and anthropogenic factors contributing to landslide susceptibility. Even if warnings are issued and systems established, the damage to the ecology cannot be reversed. And therefore, there will be consequences.
Ensuring the protection of natural systems would be the key to checking the scale of damage. It is believed that the government is intending to introduce this year an amendment to the Disaster Management Act, appoint urban disaster management authorities in states and develop a database that allows better management of disasters. There is a need to spread awareness and build better lines of communication. Also, community drills in sensitive locations can reduce the loss of life.
We must introspect and see how to do course correction to protect our ecology as well as people.