August rain in Kodagu due to global warming: IISc. Scientist
News

August rain in Kodagu due to global warming: IISc. Scientist

August 6, 2020

Kushalnagar: The earlier May-June-July monsoon in Kodagu has been delayed and rains are occurring only in the month of August-September since the last two years — and continuing this year — due to global warming and where changes to climate are happening, said Dr. T.V. Ramachandra, Coordinator, Energy and Wetlands Research Group (Centre for Ecological Sciences) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru.

Responding to an e-mail query from Star of Mysore, Dr. Ramachandra, who has done extensive research in Kodagu during the last two years of floods and landslides, said that the global warming and climate change have resulted in the reduction in number of rainy days. The amount of rain — quantum —which is supposed to spread for 35-45 days is coming in 5-10 days, he said. “Deforestation is one of the major causal factor of  global warming, which not only increases the  emissions (carbon footprint) but also reduces the water retention capability of  catchments/ watersheds and also increases the instances of  land/ mud slide as the region has become fragile with the loss of soil binding capacity of roots (of trees),” Dr. Ramachandra said.

“Water is supposed to flow slowly (allowing infiltration or percolation) but with the removal of vegetation cover, water rushes towards the downstream leading to loss of life and property. We need to wakeup now or else pay heavy price. Let us manage land resources scientifically and make sure greedy decision makers do not take advantage of common man’s ignorance,” he added.

READ ALSO  Nine arrested in Kodagu for trying to sell liquid metal Mercury

It may be mentioned here that in a study titled ‘Visualisation of impacts due to the proposed developmental projects in the ecologically fragile regions of Kodagu district’ published in ‘Progress in Disaster Science’ journal, Dr. Ramachandra and his team had said that over 66,892 hectares of pristine forest cover was lost in Kodagu due to un-interrupted exploitation. Kushalnagar and Madikeri taluks have lost the major chunk of forests due to construction of roads, home stays and villas.

The Triveni Sangam at Bhagamandala — the downstream of Talacauvery where River Cauvery originates — submerged.

“Kodagu forests sustain water and forms lifeline for Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Drastic land use changes will threaten the water security and people’s livelihood. The region is part of the central Western Ghats with the exceptional biodiversity. The expansion or new construction would result in irreversible ecological degradation,” the study said.

Projects such as major roads and Railway lines should not be allowed, even if they are essential from the perspective of highly influential section of society. The region is intrinsically fragile with steep slopes and sharp gradients and small disturbances will lead to catastrophe. Deforestation needs to be arrested immediately, the scientists mentioned.

Dr. Ramachandra said that deforestation process in the district was evident from the loss of forest cover from 40% (1973) to 24% (2018). Kodagu landscape is ecologically fragile and need to maintain the structure of the landscape to ensure its capability, ecological functions including structural stability. 

River Cauvery flows dangerously close to the hanging bridge at Kanive in Kushalnagar. The bridge was washed away last year and was repaired later.

No major damage this year

Meanwhile, noted Geologist and retired Deputy Director, Geological Survey of India Dr. H.S.M. Prakash said that this year, there is no major indication of massive destruction due to floods and landslides like it happened in 2018 and 2019. “Scientific studies and geological examinations say that this year there will be no major landslides or a cloud-burst-like situation. There is also no indication of earth cracking up from below causing it to crash,” he said.  If at all destruction has to take place in August this year, it will be only minimum, as low as 2%. “Scientists and geologists base their data on evidence and studies conducted on earth and its crust. I had predicted that there might be landslides in 2019 as there were indications. Likewise, landslides occurred in Kodagu but were not as severe as in 2018. Our observations are only indicative but we cannot predict 100%,” he said. 

READ ALSO  Mysuru reports 372 new COVID cases, 13 deaths on Aug. 3

“This year, there are no indications of earthquakes in Kodagu or Karnataka. But such signs are visible in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,” he added.

2 COMMENTS ON THIS POST To “August rain in Kodagu due to global warming: IISc. Scientist”

  1. K Sridhar says:

    This is precisely why stupid ideas like railway line & highway through this ecologically sensitive area of the Western Ghats must not be allowed. Ultimately it is the people of Kodagu who will have to suffer the disastrous consequences.

  2. Hello, hello! says:

    @Sridhar
    Recently, there are articles praising the efforts made by many in the unification of Karnataka. There was no indication in those articles what the negatives were . One of the negatives was to absorb Kodagu, a wonderful small country- I call it a country because of its unique ecology, its people and their customs which were singular, which even the British recognised and let Kodagu had its own administration separate from the then Mysore state. Kodagu flourished as a state. The Unification of Karnataka killed, as it became a mere region, and focus on it was lost for ever.
    What you highlight is the result of the negative effect of Unification.
    It is time that Kodagu became a state, as before with its own assembly and ministry and administration.

ABOUT

Mysuru’s favorite and largest circulated English evening daily has kept the citizens of Mysuru informed and entertained since 1978. Over the past 45 years, Star of Mysore has been the newspaper that Mysureans reach for every evening to know about the happenings in Mysuru city. The newspaper has feature rich articles and dedicated pages targeted at readers across the demographic spectrum of Mysuru city. With a readership of over 2,50,000 Star of Mysore has been the best connection between it’s readers and their leaders; between advertisers and customers; between Mysuru and Mysureans.

CONTACT

Academy News Papers Private Limited, Publishers, Star of Mysore & Mysuru Mithra, 15-C, Industrial ‘A’ Layout, Bannimantap, Mysuru-570015. Phone no. – 0821 249 6520

To advertise on Star of Mysore, email us at

Online Edition: [email protected]
Print Editon: [email protected]
For News/Press Release: [email protected]