CAN WE PREVENT LANDSLIDES IN KERALA
According to a recent report by India Today, during the period between 2015 and 2022 there were 3782 landslides in India, out of which 2239 were in Kerala, that may works out to 59.2%. However as far as the devastation and casualties are concerned what has been taken place in Wayanad on 30 July 2024 is the deadliest of Kerala in the recent history. As per the available information the number of human loss until now is worked to over 400. Considerable number of people are still missing. Since all of them could not have been traced out including young kids the figure cannot be estimated now.
In spite of a number of warning by the environment committee, indiscriminate quarrying and deforestation continued and that was the cause for the landslide in Chooral Mala and Mundakkal in Wayanad. The successive governments cannot wash their hands from their responsibility. Let us not forget the fact that India is one of the top five landslide prone country in the world. At an average of one death per 100 sq miles takes place in India. Alongwith our geographical conditions our corruptive practices also pave the way for the antihuman activities in our country. The prime cause of landslides are rain fall, change of water level in the ground, earthquake, disturbance by human activities etc. A slip surface formed in the ground of slope prompt a landslide. When rain water permeates through the ground, the ground water level rises and the ground water is supplied to the slip surface and this cause the slop to move.
By satellite images and remote sensing means we may be able to find the water deposits in potential hills. Anticipated rain can be added to this and scientifically we can measure the water content. After assessing the threats we can take urgent preventive measures to shift the occupants of the influenceable region. We may also slowly bring out much of the water and flow safely to the nearest river.
As per a recent report by Malayala Manorama the High Court of Kerala has asked the Director of Geological department to issue necessary orders to prevent removing soil from hills. In order to have the positive effects of this order, and not to breach it through corruptive means, it is suggested that the government may formulate a fresh law to eradicate corruption from our society. Anyone accept anything, even one rupee or anything worth that much should be send to the gallows. We cannot escape from corruption without such a harsh law. Since the subject we discuss here is concerned about large number of human lives no mercy need to be shown to the corrupt. In short, human causes that prompt landslides should be fully avoided and parallelly we may use scientific means like satellite images, remote sensing etc to foresee landslides and take preventive and precautionary methodos to save human lives.
(Indebted to a series of websites, India Today , The Hindu, Nalayala Manorama for the above information.)
K V George
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