Climate change can cause extreme weather and natural disasters that may surprise local response teams. The landslides in Wayanad district, Kerala on July 30 are not typical calamities. Kerala has seen significant rains throughout the southwest monsoon season, resulting in yearly landslides. However, disastrous landslides are relatively new. This week, severe rains caused landslides that killed 200 people and destroyed several villages. The location is a popular tourist destination, so infrastructure development is encouraged to maximize revenue possibilities.
The Chaliyar river originates at a height of around 2 km and flows in a sheer path towards Vellarmala, bringing fast waters that sweep relatively more sediment downstream. This year’s rains increased the river’s volume and force, which swept up debris and deposited it in villages settled on less steep land, where many deaths have been reported.
Landslide-prone areas such as Idukki, Kottayam, Malappuram, and Wayanad have long been known for their unique geography and are prominently shown on danger maps. The recurrence of fatal landslides can be attributed to both climate change and a state that has been caught off guard. A common concern is a lack of advance warning and emergency preparation. Landslides are more prevalent in ecologically sensitive locations. The monsoons’ brief bursts of severe rain have made some soil types more easily dislodged during quarrying. Linear infrastructure expansion, construction operations, and monocropping have further weakened ecosystems’ resilience to shifting natural conditions.
Land use patterns should not alter, and the State should restore and rebuild denuded lands to provide chances for people’s wellbeing. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel recommends that Kerala decline engineering projects in ecologically sensitive areas and establish expert committees to assess the viability of future projects. The panel’s suggestions aim to mitigate the impact of unpredictable weather on economic growth. However, Kerala has reached a stage where it is no longer possible to combine development and environmental concerns.
ABHISHEK VERMA
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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