MELTING MOUNTAINS
As picturesque mountain landscapes collapse in a mass of debris, solutions are urgently needed to arrest this degradation.
By Synergia Research Team
A common perception amongst Indians is that landslides induced mass destruction is a calamity more confined to our Himalayan tract in the North. This belief was rudely dispelled when on the night of July 30th, heavy rains lashed the picturesque Wayanad belt of Kerala. While people slept peacefully in their homes, nature unleashed its most violent incarnation. Following heavy monsoon rains, the entire hillside melted into a landslide of unprecedented scale, obliterating from the face of the earth six villages. The catastrophic event resulted in the deaths of 392 people, with 273 injured and 180 still missing. The landslides wiped out homes, roads, and farmlands, leaving thousands of residents displaced and entire communities in ruins.
Not to be left out of the news focus, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have been regularly reporting long swathes of roads being washed away by raging torrents and crumbling mountainsides under cloudbursts. This phenomenon has become an annual event in this part of the country.
Ecological Treasures
The Western Ghats in the South and the lofty Himalayas in the North are two critical mountain systems in India, well known for their ecological significance.
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are one of the world's "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity, covering approximately 160,000 square kilometres and stretching about 1,600 kilometres parallel to the western coast of India. They are renowned for their rich biodiversity and distinct ecosystems, home to many endemic species of flora and fauna.
On the other hand, the Himalayas are the youngest and tallest mountain range in the world, stretching across five countries and playing a crucial role in the climate and water systems of the Indian subcontinent.
The importance of these mountain ranges lies not only in their biodiversity but also in their roles in influencing weather patterns, particularly the Indian monsoon. The forests of the Western Ghats and the Himalayas are critical for the survival of several river systems that provide water to millions of people in the surrounding regions.
A Delicate Ecosystem
However, these ecologically sensitive areas face numerous threats from human activities, including deforestation, mining, and unsustainable agricultural practices.
Landslides are a common natural disaster in both the Western Ghats and the Himalayas due to their steep terrain, heavy rainfall, and geological conditions. These events are typically triggered by heavy monsoon rains that saturate the soil, causing it to lose cohesion and slide downhill. The frequency of landslides in these regions has been increasing due to both natural and anthropogenic factors.
According to various reports, the Western Ghats and the Himalayas experience numerous landslides annually, significantly impacting both the environment and local communities. For example, between 1990 and 2010, over 1,000 landslides were recorded in the Western Ghats. Similarly, the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have witnessed a series of devastating landslides in recent years, exacerbated by deforestation and unplanned infrastructure development.
Studying landslides in these regions is crucial for several reasons. It helps in understanding the underlying causes, assessing the risks, and implementing effective mitigation measures. Furthermore, it plays a vital role in environmental conservation, ensuring the safety of human settlements and maintaining the ecological balance of these biodiverse hotspots. Addressing these issues is essential for sustainable development and reducing the local population's vulnerability to natural disasters.
Himachal Pradesh experienced a devastating landslide in August 2021 in the Kinnaur district. The landslide, triggered by continuous heavy rains, resulted in the deaths of 28 people and left several others injured. The disaster caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, which hampered rescue operations.
The Wayanad and Kinnaur landslides underscore the critical need for sustainable development and effective disaster management strategies in these ecologically vulnerable regions. Improved infrastructure planning, reforestation, and community-based disaster preparedness programmes are essential to mitigate the impact of such natural disasters in the future.
Development vs Conservation
Infrastructure development in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas has significantly increased over the past few decades. The construction of resorts, roads, and highways has expanded to accommodate growing tourism and urbanisation. These developments, however, have contributed to destabilising the fragile ecosystems in these regions.
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as the Gadgil Commission after its chairman Madhav Gadgil, was submitted to the government in 2011 and faced criticism for being “ excessively environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities.”
The report highlights that between 1990 and 2010, there were over 1,000 recorded landslides in the region, leading to substantial loss of life and property. For instance, the Wayanad district alone witnessed a series of devastating landslides in recent years, exacerbated by deforestation and unplanned infrastructure development. The Gadgil Report claims that extensive construction activities lead to steep cuts on slopes and destabilisation of soil, which are primary factors contributing to landslides. For instance, creating roads and highways involves removing vegetation, which holds the soil together. When the monsoon rains arrive, the exposed soil is easily washed away, leading to landslides. This applies equally to the network of highways being cut across the Himalayas in the hill states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
In Wayanad, the rapid increase in resorts and other tourist infrastructure has exacerbated this issue. The construction processes often involve significant alterations to the natural landscape, including levelling hills and redirecting natural water flow. Such activities disturb the soil structure and reduce its stability, making the region more susceptible to landslides. The recent Wayanad landslide can be directly linked to these infrastructure developments. Unregulated construction on steep slopes without proper soil conservation measures led to the loosening of the soil, which, combined with heavy rains, triggered the landslide.
Similarly, in the Himalayan region, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, infrastructure development has also significantly increased the risk of landslides. In Himachal Pradesh, the construction of roads and hydroelectric projects has led to the destabilisation of slopes. The 2013 Kedarnath disaster in Uttarakhand caused massive landslides and flooding, partly attributed to unregulated construction and deforestation. Expanding infrastructure without adequate environmental safeguards has led to soil erosion and increased landslide vulnerability.
These case studies underscore the need for sustainable development practices in both the Western Ghats and the Himalayas to prevent further environmental degradation and ensure the safety of local communities. Implementing proper soil conservation measures, regulating construction activities, and integrating environmental impact assessments into development projects are crucial to sustainable development in these ecologically sensitive regions.
Commercial Exploitation
Mining activities in both the Western Ghats and the Himalayas involve the extraction of various minerals such as iron ore, bauxite, and manganese. These minerals are economically significant, contributing to local and national economies. However, mining has severe environmental impacts, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.
The Gadgil Report emphasises that mining operations destabilise slopes, increasing the likelihood of landslides. Removing vegetation for mining exposes soil, making it susceptible to erosion. Moreover, creating mining pits allows for water infiltration, which weakens the structural integrity of the slopes.
Similarly, in the Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, mining activities have had detrimental effects on the environment and increased the risk of landslides. In Himachal Pradesh, mining minerals such as limestone and gypsum has led to significant deforestation and soil erosion. The Chamba district, for instance, has seen increased landslide activity due to unregulated mining practices. In Uttarakhand, illegal sand mining along riverbanks has destabilised slopes and altered natural drainage patterns, contributing to landslides and flash floods.
These facts highlight the urgent need for strict regulation and sustainable mining practices within the Western Ghats and the Himalayas. Implementing effective measures to mitigate environmental damage is crucial to prevent future disasters and protect the fragile ecosystems of these regions. By adopting sustainable mining practices and enforcing stringent regulations, it is possible to balance economic development with environmental conservation, ensuring these ecologically sensitive areas' long-term safety and stability.
Inimical Agricultural Practices
Traditional agricultural practices in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas were diverse and sustainable, maintaining soil structure and stability. However, the shift to modern agricultural practices has led to monoculture plantations, such as tea, coffee, and rubber in the Western Ghats, and apple and potato farming in the Himalayan regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. These plantations, while economically beneficial, have had significant environmental impacts.
The Gadgil Report highlights that monoculture plantations lead to declining soil quality and biodiversity. The constant tilling and use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides reduce soil cohesion and increase erosion. The roots of monoculture crops are often shallow and less effective in binding the soil, making the land more susceptible to landslides, particularly during heavy rains.
Furthermore, the widespread use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has degraded soil health, reducing its natural resilience. The chemicals disrupt the soil's natural composition, leading to further destabilisation and increased runoff during rainfall. This runoff carries away the topsoil, which is crucial for maintaining soil fertility and structure.
In Wayanad, converting diverse agricultural systems to monocultures has exacerbated the risk of landslides. The recent landslide in the region can be partly attributed to these inimical agricultural practices, which have weakened the soil structure and increased vulnerability to natural disasters.
Similarly, the shift to monoculture apple orchards and extensive potato farming in the Himalayas has led to similar issues. These monocultures have replaced traditional mixed farming systems that maintained soil stability, resulting in increased soil erosion and landslide susceptibility. For instance, in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, the expansion of apple orchards on steep slopes without adequate soil conservation measures has significantly increased the risk of landslides. The excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in these areas has further degraded soil health and stability.
The Gadgil Report underscores the need to revert to more sustainable agricultural practices to protect the fragile ecosystems of the Western Ghats and the Himalayas. Promoting diverse and sustainable farming methods can enhance soil health, reduce erosion, and mitigate the risk of landslides in these ecologically sensitive regions.
Key Takeaways
Sustainable development practices are essential to mitigate these impacts and prevent future landslides. Improved environmental governance and community involvement are crucial for effective conservation efforts.
Without further delay, the recommendations of the Gadgil Report must be implemented, especially in its core findings. The recent tragedy underscores the need for reverting to
more sustainable agricultural practices to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats
and strict regulation of mining and construction activities in this fragile region.
While substantial external investment has flowed into this region due to its attractiveness as a tourist destination, the primary stakeholders are the villagers living there for centuries.
By adopting sustainable practices and engaging local communities, we can protect the Western Ghats' biodiversity and ensure the safety of human settlements. Preventing future landslides requires a holistic approach that balances development with ecological preservation.
