In the early hours of 30 July, a series of massive landslides washed away around 6 villages in Kerala’s Wayanad. A week later, the death toll stood at 389, and is expected to rise as 180 people are still missing. https://onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2024/08/05/wayanad-landslide-search-continues-for-missing-people-live.html…

In the backdrop of what is one of the deadliest natural disasters to hit #Kerala , experts have pointed out that  climate change induced oceanic warming and indiscriminate construction is exacerbating such disasters.
https://bit.ly/3Yvp9Ya @thewire_in

In 2011, a controversial report by the Gadgil Committee had pointed out the vulnerability of the Western Ghats and recommended that most of it be treated as an environmentally sensitive area (ESA).

But the report’s recommendations faced severe criticism from the states involved, activists and people. More than a decade later, the panel’s recommendations have not been implemented.
https://bit.ly/3YDxwAW

On 31 July, the union govt issued a draft notification to declare around 57,000 sq km of #westernghats as an ESA, including 9,994 sq km in Kerala, spanning 13 villages in #Wayanad . The draft ESA outlines a ban on new mining projects, new thermal plants, and all new and expansion projects of building and construction with a built up area of 20,000 sq m. https://news18.com/india/after-wayanad-tragedy-centre-moves-draft-to-declare-57000-sq-km-of-western-ghats-eco-sensitive-8987990.html…

This is the 6th time the draft has been released, due to the objections by the 6 affected states—Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Kerala, objections have been raised with fears that the ESA will curtail agricultural plantations and plans for hydroelectric power, and lead to a migration crisis. https://thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/after-wayanad-disaster-centre-re-issues-draft-western-ghats-notification/article68478544.ece…

In Kerala, the protests against the implementation of the ESA have sometimes been violent.
https://bit.ly/3YzaCe6

The states allege that the ESA notification will hamper peoples’ access to livelihoods, especially agriculture and harvesting of natural resources. Several activists also allege that the reports are ‘top down’ and not participatory in their intent.

https://business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/the-gadgil-dilemma-kerala-floods-a-result-of-governance-failures-118082700604_1.html…