Wounded Hills: A documentary on the environmental issues of the Western Ghats
Summary
TLDRThe Western Ghats in Kerala, a biodiversity hotspot, faces ecological challenges due to climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable resource extraction. The region's monsoon patterns are changing, leading to increased extreme rainfall events and devastating floods, as seen in 2018 and 2019. Illegal rock quarries and construction contribute to landslides, threatening the ecosystem and human lives. The script calls for sustainable development and policy changes to prevent further disasters and protect the environment and people of Kerala.
Takeaways
- 🌳 The Western Ghats in Kerala is a significant biodiversity hotspot, home to many unique and endangered species.
- 🌍 These mountainous forests cover an area of over 120,000 square kilometers and play a crucial role in India's monsoon system.
- 🐅 The region faces threats from deforestation, unsustainable resource extraction, and altered rainfall patterns affecting its biodiversity.
- 🌧️ The Western Ghats act as a barrier to rain-laden winds, which has been studied for decades for its ecological importance.
- 🌊 The area has witnessed devastating effects from extreme rainfall events, such as the floods in Kerala in 2018 and 2019.
- ⛰️ The monsoon pattern is changing, with a decrease in total rainfall but an increase in the frequency and magnitude of extreme rain events.
- 🏞️ The landscape of the Western Ghats is under pressure from a growing human population and illegal activities like rock quarrying.
- 💥 Mining and quarrying have been identified as triggers for landslides, especially in areas with rubber plantations.
- 🌐 The environmental impact of such activities has been neglected, leading to a lack of effective policies to protect the region.
- 🚫 Dr. Madhav Gadgil's recommendations for the protection of the Western Ghats have been largely ignored by authorities.
- 🌿 Kerala is at a critical juncture and must choose a path of sustainable development to prevent further environmental disasters.
Q & A
What is Kerala known for in terms of biodiversity?
-Kerala is known for being a biodiversity hotspot, rich in unique plants and animals, including highly endangered species such as tigers, nilgiri tahr, line deer, macaws, and elephants.
How large is the Western Ghats region?
-The Western Ghats region is spread over one lakh twenty-nine thousand and thirty-seven square kilometers.
What role do the Western Ghats play in India's monsoon season?
-The Western Ghats act as a barrier to the rain-laden winds from the southwest, helping to bring the bounty of the summer monsoon to India every year.
Who headed the Western Ghats ecology expert panel in 2011?
-Madhav Gadgil headed the Western Ghats ecology expert panel in 2011.
What was Madhav Gadgil's recommendation for the Western Ghats?
-Madhav Gadgil recommended that the entire Western Ghats be declared ecologically sensitive.
What impact did the extreme rainfall in August 2018 have on Kerala?
-The extreme rainfall in August 2018 led to devastating floods in Kerala, resulting in the death of more than 480 people and affecting 12 districts.
What is the trend in the frequency of extreme rainfall events in India?
-The frequency of extreme rainfall events in India is showing a steady increase, as indicated by the scientific studies.
What are the consequences of the changing monsoon pattern for regions like Kerala?
-The changing monsoon pattern is leading to more dry periods or droughts interspersed with extreme rainfall events, posing a threat to food security, economic prosperity, and people's safety.
What is the connection between rock quarrying and landslides in the Western Ghats?
-Rock quarrying, much of which is illegal, can trigger landslides in the hills, especially in areas with rubber plantations, as the trees cannot hold the soil firmly during heavy rains.
What does Dr. Gadgil suggest should be done about the rock quarrying in the Western Ghats?
-Dr. Gadgil suggests that the Kerala Government should pass a resolution in the Assembly stating that the state will only have sustainable development programs, and illegal rock quarrying should be immediately stopped.
What is the potential long-term impact of unsustainable practices in the Western Ghats?
-If unlawful practices continue, it is likely to result in more deadly disasters like floods and mudslides, threatening lives, livelihoods, and the ecological balance of the region.
Outlines
🌿 Biodiversity and Ecological Challenges of Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in Kerala, India, is under threat due to deforestation, unsustainable resource extraction, and altered rainfall patterns. The region, home to endangered species like tigers and nilgiri tahr, is crucial for India's monsoon rains. However, the area has witnessed devastating floods and landslides, such as in 2018, which were exacerbated by extreme rainfall and human activities. The script discusses the ecological importance of the Ghats, the impact of climate change, and the need for sustainable development to prevent further ecological disasters.
🌧️ Changing Monsoon Patterns and Their Impact on India
The monsoon pattern in India is shifting, with regions like Kerala and Mumbai experiencing a decrease in total monsoon rainfall over time, while the frequency and intensity of extreme rain events are increasing. This new pattern is causing more dry periods and droughts, punctuated by sudden, heavy rainfall events that can lead to floods and landslides. The script highlights the tragic consequences of these events, such as the 2019 landslide in Malappuram that buried 58 people in their homes, and the subsequent challenges faced by the affected communities, including loss of land and livelihoods.
💥 The Role of Mining and Quarrying in Environmental Degradation
Illegal rock quarrying in the Western Ghats is contributing to environmental degradation and increasing the risk of landslides. The script discusses the aftermath of a landslide that killed 17 people, and the role of quarrying in destabilizing the hills. Dr. Gadgil's report, which called for a halt to rock quarrying in the Ghats, was ignored, leading to continued environmental damage. The script also touches on the impact of windmill construction and the need for sustainable development practices to protect the region's ecology and people's safety.
🌱 The Call for Sustainable Development in Kerala
The script concludes with a call for sustainable development in Kerala, emphasizing the need to address the environmental destruction caused by mining, deforestation, and unsustainable practices. It highlights the importance of respecting scientific findings and implementing policies that protect the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The future of Kerala hangs in the balance, with the choice between continuing on a path of environmental degradation or embracing green development to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and the region's rich biodiversity.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Biodiversity hotspot
💡Western Ghats
💡Monsoon
💡Deforestation
💡Ecologically Sensitive Area
💡Climate change
💡Landslides
💡Illegal quarrying
💡Sustainable development
💡Extreme weather events
💡Ecological degradation
Highlights
Kerala is described as a biodiversity hotspot with unique flora and fauna.
Western Ghats cover an area of over 120,000 square kilometers and are home to endangered species.
The mountains play a crucial role in the summer monsoon, acting as a barrier to rain-laden winds.
Scientist Madhav Gadgil led a study in 2011, recommending the declaration of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive.
Public awareness of the Western Ghats' importance is high, yet degradation continues due to human activities.
Pressure from a growing population and unsustainable practices threaten the ecological balance of the region.
The 2018 Kerala floods resulted in over 480 deaths and widespread devastation.
Extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent due to global warming, impacting the monsoon pattern.
India is experiencing a decrease in total monsoon rainfall while extreme rain events are on the rise.
The 2019 landslide in Malappuram district resulted in 58 people being buried, highlighting the dangers of unstable terrain.
Dr. Gadgil's recommendations for environmental protection were initially rejected by authorities.
Illegal rock quarries contribute to landslides and environmental degradation in the Western Ghats.
The demand for rocks and the rock quarry business pose a significant threat to the region's ecology.
Rock quarrying destabilizes soil, especially in rubber plantation areas, increasing the risk of landslides.
The construction of windmills and related infrastructure may also contribute to environmental damage.
Kerala faces a critical decision to either adopt sustainable development practices or risk further disasters.
Scientists warn that continued unlawful practices will threaten lives, livelihoods, and food security.
The narrative emphasizes the need for a shift towards green development to prevent future ecological crises.
Transcripts
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
the heavens open up unveiling the
Western gods this is one of the world's
biggest biodiversity hotspots Kerala is
a verdant land full of streams lakes
rivers mountains forests rich in
biodiversity and home to many unique
plants and animals the beautiful Western
gods are spread over one lakh twenty
nine thousand and thirty seven square
kilometres these mountainous forests are
home to highly endangered creatures such
as tigers nilgiri tahr
line deer macaws and elephants
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Music]
[Applause]
they are also crucial in bringing the
bounty of the summer monsoon to India
every year these mountains act as a
Keely barrier to the rain Laden winds
from the southwest and they are bound
with rivers the importance of which has
been studied for decades scientist
madhavgarh Gill who headed the western
ghats ecology expert panel in 2011
studied this biodiversity hotspot and
wanted all of it declared ecologically
sensitive
westergaard's of course is what well
perhaps the best studied biodiversity is
it regions of India till notified
information is available lot of
enthusiastic records like the
westergaard's here and there and about
its degradation the innocence public
awareness has been relatively quite high
but the landscape of the western guards
has been changing once pristine forests
these mountains are today under
tremendous pressure from a growing human
population deforestation unsustainable
extraction of resources and altered
rainfall patterns the new monsoon trend
has had a devastating effect on the
ecology as Kerala witnessed in 2018 and
19
in 2018 more than 480 people died and 12
districts were badly affected in the
floods that hit Kerala
the extreme rainfall in August 2018 in
the catchments upstream of the three
major reservoirs leaky cocky and Puryear
produced a staggering effect worsening
the floods
there has been global warming and it is
having its impacts all over the world
not just on Western Ghats all over the
world and one of the scientific results
of studies is clearly that the frequency
of extreme events such as very intense
rainfall that is beginning to god
scientists see that the warning signs
are all day that the monsoon pattern is
definitely changing India for regions
like Kayla and Mumbai in the western
parts and parts of Central India the
total monsoon is decreasing gradually
decreasing or a period of time while the
frequency and magnitude of extreme rain
events are going out so this is going to
become a new mo for the future as well
where you have more dry periods or
droughts in the middle with extreme
rainfall events so what you see over
mainland India or western ghats region
is that will increase our agency
temperatures you have the fluctuating
monsoon winds carry more moisture from
the Arabian Sea and coming it over India
and the western ghats within a few hours
or a few days time
[Applause]
[Music]
[Music]
so for india the total rainfall which we
receive during the monsoon season he's
showing a gradual decrease you can see
with this gray line there's a gradual
decrease in total monsoon rainfall which
we received during June to September so
that degrees is evident during 1950 to
2080 well the same time if you look at
the number of extreme rain events this
red line you can see that there is a
steady increase in the number of extreme
rainfall events over India on August 8th
2019 58 people were buried in their
homes when a mountain of mud descended
upon them in Kavala para in Malappuram
district the skies came crashing down in
the dark of the night in Kabul upaya
when there was no power people didn't
realize the magnitude of the tragedy
until the next morning
[Music]
scenes of loss and trauma unfolded
everywhere allaha decided to move away
at 7:30 p.m.
ass position that saved her life her
neighbors and distant relatives were not
as lucky people realized that the mud
had turned into a tide the previous
night swelling with the floodwaters and
sweeping down a mountainside on which
stood a thin cover of rubber trees there
was a tsunami of mud the hills that had
stood far away for yours suddenly seemed
to be at the doorstep bald and imposing
five kilometers away from kabbalah para
in pod our people were evacuated just
before the landslides
this prevented the loss of many lives as
the flood waters goes down further they
created their own path
removing houses trees and other
obstructions leaving only a trail of
boulders rubble and shattered lives
farmers who relied on the rubber trees
lost their land the land was now strewn
with immovable rocks dirt and debris the
precious rubber trees had banished
[Music]
[Music]
away from Kabbalah para input the
Malayan V&R district there was another
deadly incident a landslide here killed
17 people overnight puta mala is 11
kilometres from memory and known for its
dia states the land in houses was swept
away across several kilometers leaving a
trail of destruction as news of the
destruction echoed across the country
with images flashing of rescuers digging
through the rubble and mud looking for
survivors
dr. gargle visited the disaster struck
areas his recommendations had earlier
been rejected by the authorities I think
unfortunately we have a lawless society
supported by the states lawlessness
this is States lawlessness that the
environmental impact assessment reports
are written elsewhere for completely
fabricated reports are accepted and
projects allowed to go on this is
government so long as this when we have
pointed out to ecologically highly
sensitive areas allowing disturbances to
those areas again very negligently was
in part responsible
but it's not just rainfall it is evident
that mining also triggers landslides in
the hills
Kerala has to tackle another major
challenge rock quarry in the mountains
most of which is illegal in his report
dr. gut Gil had called for a halt to
rock quarry in the gods hello we are
certain more about deep voice the number
of quarries you know 5927 quarries in
kerala now they're reborn but this is
what is recorded by the kind of person
source Institute out of that less than
thousand only is a proven line since one
rest of them are illegal so the first
sentence on this quarry business what we
said illegal Koreans will be should be
immediately stopped but nothing has
happened here now or so
we have the mold system of blasting in
the columns which is still in going on
you make a big hole in the granite fill
it with explosives blast it
now when you blast it the waves which is
causing its first to long distance and
the sound waves if you could look at the
sound waves they travel the first in
diamund the next fastest medium here's a
grenade
now if whenever a blast happens it
becomes a shaky and at one point of time
when there's a heavy rainfall and when
the weight of the water is quite high
the soil just slides over
[Music]
Rock Calling poses a particular threat
to areas with exclusive rubber
plantations because these trees cannot
hold the soil firmly heavy rain scoops
the soil and takes it downhill
[Music]
[Applause]
but is there any way Kerala can end the
lucrative business of rock Warren can
the demand for rocks be met from some
other source
the amount of rocks gravel pieces which
we have put it now I will say is huge
there's one doubt it's not do you
predict any work all day now if you are
if the government decides to take the
ground back that way enough for many
generations the firm of consumption to
happen again
mining is being that unduly negligently
windmills are being set up everywhere
and the roads to windmills are
constructed unduly negligently because
if there are landslides due to those
roads to the windmills all over you can
see westergaard's there are landslides
relating to road construction for the
windmills on top of the hills the
windmills get penalised in no way
[Music]
because a man we had above top 8.75 left
the tips of language the environmental
destruction and the monsoon disruption
are a result of failed policies and a
contempt for science today they pose a
threat to careless food security
economic prosperity and people's safety
in many places after the storms receded
people began to remove the silt clean up
and restore normalcy in their lives but
the question really is are they safe in
the future we have been talking about
sustainable development for ages but
nobody is practicing that properly we
have to now definitely buy a road this
is what I said the Kerala Government you
should pass her a solution anonymous
resolution in the Assembly saying that
care law will have only sustainable
development program here of town
scientists warn that if unlawful
practices continue unabated lives and
livelihoods cannot be saved and so today
Kerala is at a crossroads it has to make
a choice it must shift to a green
development path or risk even more
deadly disasters like floods and
mudslides
[Music]
I'm gonna poker can't disappoint you
good nerve and somebody took a Menasha
Harkin sumbitches a murder carrier can't
disappoint you eaten number where the
neighbor nobody will come the hell -
booty number or karma I was having
rather a problem thank you for America
voters go to the pattern like a poorer
somewhat America Wendy he care nothing
but doesn't a little Kern and early care
of my demonic are come who are you Rama
will come idea of pure shear particle
kodo-san Markham well I'm Martha I'm
around Rocky sohe my trap course you're
a little program which a decayed in the
Cunha Nalanda mobile hour read-a-thon is
okay for on the move in
muhahahaha money change another question
a cathode is a in the Mahabharata
it is a modern galerkin's a silver
general of Sigma 11 we will look at
another book
Mahaprabhu ima remove our day in the one
of the Fenian almost Romana I didn't
know killa now the Essure energy trade
with him but it is even sure no mana in
the second alarm
[Music]
[Music]
you
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