Landslides in the hilly areas near Meppadi in Wayanad district of Kerala on July 30, 2024. Photo: NDRF via PTI
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who was the chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), has termed the disaster in Wayanad a man-made tragedy, attributing it to the Kerala governmentโs failure to implement crucial ecological recommendations.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Gadgil criticised the State government for not adhering to the panelโs guidelines designed to prevent such disasters amid extreme climate changes.
Also read: Wayanad landslides LIVE
In the early hours of Tuesday, massive landslides at Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha in Wayanad district buried large areas under debris, resulting in the death of at least 84 people and leaving many injured.
Mr. Gadgil highlighted that the panelโs report had classified the region into three levels of ecological sensitivity, with the areas now struck by the disaster being marked as highly sensitive.
โNo-development zoneโ
โNo development should have taken place in these highly sensitive areas,โ he said, noting that these zones had been utilised for tea plantations during the British period and had since seen extensive development, including the construction of resorts and artificial lakes.
Mr. Gadgil said the presence of quarries operating a few kilometres from the disaster site had further exacerbated the situation. Although these quarries were now defunct, the shockwaves caused during their operational period could have extended to the disaster-stricken areas, triggering landslides during heavy rain, he said.
Mr. Gadgil accused the government of rejecting the panelโs report, leading to recurring disasters in Wayanad and other parts of the State. โA businessman recently proposed to transform the area into a tourist destination, with buildings and infrastructure development being carried out under the guise of ecotourism, disturbing the fragile environment. This was in the presence of the Chief Minister, who was there to attend an event,โ he said.
โProactive steps neededโ
He warned that without serious and proactive measures on the part of the State government to implement the reportโs recommendations, such disasters would recur, exacerbated by climate change, which could bring extreme rainfall and droughts. โOnly if the government takes the report seriously can such disasters be avoided,โ Mr. Gadgil said.
