AIR Spotlight: Challenges of Heavy Rainfall and Management | Testbook.com

Every day, All India Radio Newsonair broadcasts AIR Spotlight, a program where eminent panelists delve into significant issues. These discussions can be an important source of information for those preparing for exams like the IAS exam. Today, we will be discussing the trials posed by heavy rainfall and the potential strategies for managing these natural disasters.

Panelists:

1. Tripti Parule, Former advisor NDMA
2. Aditi Tandon, Journalist

Background: Recent heavy rainfall has led to numerous weather events in the northern and eastern parts of India.

Overview:

• Over 36 individuals have tragically lost their lives in the northern hills and eastern plains due to heavy rainfall, which has caused flash floods, landslides, and more.
• States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Jharkhand have suffered significant losses in terms of both life and property in recent weeks.
• These severe weather events are increasing in both frequency and intensity.
• In recent months, there have been numerous reports of landslides and cloudbursts. Cloudbursts have become a significant phenomenon in the past decade.
• Kerala tops the list when it comes to landslide incidents, followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh.
• The Geological Survey of India has been conducting National Landslide susceptibility mapping since 2014, covering over 430,000 sq. km. of landslide-prone areas.

Causes of Extreme Weather Events:

• Environmental changes are one of the primary causes.
• Uncontrolled construction activities in hilly regions have increased the vulnerability of these areas.
• Overcrowding and the stress of heavy tourist influx, especially on weekends, is another contributing factor. For instance, Shimla sees an influx of 5000 vehicles on weekends.
• Geographical factors such as the terrain, land use, and land cover also play a role in triggering landslides.
• Blockage of drainage systems due to human activities can exacerbate the situation.

Challenges Associated with Heavy Rainfall:

• While rainfall can be predicted, forecasting landslides in diverse terrains remains a challenge.
• Cloudbursts, like the one that occurred during the recent Amarnath yatra, can create significant obstacles.
• While pre and post-disaster management can be implemented, managing the situation during the disaster is a major challenge.

Proposed Solutions:

• The government should regulate construction activities in hilly terrains such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, etc.
• Ensuring that local residents and tourists receive regular warnings is crucial.
• Implementing the guidelines set by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) effectively is essential.
• Raising awareness among local residents and taking proactive measures can greatly help in mitigating disasters.
• Warnings should also be circulated to nearby larger cities to prevent uncontrolled tourist influx.
• Creating platforms for discussions on disaster management is necessary.
• Increasing plantation in these regions can help as trees act as natural barriers, holding the soil and rocks together.
• Innovative solutions like using seed balls in inaccessible mountainous regions can help increase tree cover.
• The involvement of local communities, self-help groups, and panchayats can play a significant role in tackling these disasters.

Conclusion:

Close coordination between all stakeholders, from local residents and panchayats to state and central level executives, is crucial. A bottom-up approach is needed to tackle such weather extremities. Moreover, it is essential that environmental and climate change considerations are central to all policy decisions.