To prevent future catastrophes, we must reassess our approach to urban planning and disaster management, ensuring that development is aligned with sustainable practices
The Wayanad tragedy—serious lessons for the future the incident and news of the very recent Wayanad landslide tragedy seems to be passé. No one is talking about it now when the media headlines are being hogged by the fresh and more serious episode—of rape, mob violence and anarchy in Kolkata, WB.
This does not suggest that we begin taking a lighter look at the long-term serious administrative steps required to forestall incidents of landslides occurring more due to misgovernance than climate change. More of such incidents are waiting to happen if we do not take urgent, timely steps.It is with great shock that we heard the tragic death of more than 400 persons in the landslides in Wayanad, Kerala and of another 250-plus persons who were reportedly injured or missing. The two large landslides that hit Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad in the early hours of July 30, resulted in wide destruction, several fatalities, and serious injuries to hundreds. While incidents of natural disasters are episodes apparently beyond the control of humans, there is much humans can do to prevent them and minimize the damage wrought by them after they occur.
It is remarkable that just about a week before this tragedy the state government in Kerala was warned by the Union Home Ministry about the possibility of a catastrophe based on the feedback provided by an NDRF team deputed to assess the susceptible site. This is a sad and sobering reflection on the ham-fisted administrative machinery of the state government in India. The frequent incidents of collapse of buildings and bridges in our country have a direct and crying connection with unauthorised, faulty building construction in violation of prescribed safety norms of the government.
This illegal construction takes place right under the nose of regulatory agencies of the government. Corrupt government officials allow unauthorised construction and things appear normal till some major mishap occurs, capturing news headlines all over. The sadder part of the story is that state governments are inadequately equipped for disaster management. Invariably, central assistance is sought and the army has to come to the rescue of the hapless, distressed citizens.
The case of landslides and the damage caused by them is not much different from that of buildings and bridges collapsing elsewhere.It would be in the fitness of things to systematically list out the reasons and preventive remedies for such catastrophic landslide events in our country.
Heavy torrential rains: Heavy torrential rains are not the core causal factors. They are only the triggering factors behind such landslides. Further, to say that the intensity and frequency of rainfall in any region or area is purely subject to uncertainties of nature is not quite correct.
Our living paradigms do influence rainfall patterns in various geographical areas. Climate change is the result of faulty living paradigms. There are things we can do to prevent interruption of normal rainfall patterns. Ancient scientific literature of India can provide useful guidance in this regard.
Wrong building construction practices: Our building construction and water management practices are not perfect. Our deficient understanding and practices based thereon regarding the earth’s geographical interiors puts us in a vulnerable position.
Cracking and crumbling mountains are a direct outcome of these practices. In this regard, one has to merely cast a look at medieval time buildings that stand intact after hundreds of years while also maintaining the integrity of their surrounding hilly sites. Ancient and medieval buildings were built with stones. Modern buildings use RCC with heavy foundations that damage the host sites.
We need to learn and adopt some of our ancient building techniques which gave stronger, environment friendly and more durable structures. Unauthorised mining: Unauthorised mining activities in contravention of set safety regulations cause tremendous harm to the terrains, making them vulnerable to landslides. Strong deterrent and punitive legal measures are the need of the hour.
Local violation of established building safety norms: As stated above, corruption in municipalities and local government bodies accounts for many cases of unauthorised building construction in flagrant violation of safety norms. Violation of safety norms should be strictly penalised.
Deforestation: Deforestation in hilly areas for indiscriminate construction— either of residential buildings or commercial buildings bridges highways or flyovers is a big factor in the wearing of underground natural plates that support hills and mountains. The adverse effects of deforestation may not be evident immediately. But long term, they show themselves in the form of natural disturbances leading to earthquakes and climate change.
This phenomenon needs to be studied at the institutional level, and supported by the government. We should not always depend on foreign agency research results. We have the capability and wherewithal to carry out research and devise remedial measures in the form of specific afforestation measures in identified regions.
Inept state government machinery: As indicated above, our state government agencies are neglectful, inefficient, callous and corrupt. What is the reason? Proper systems do not exist that will ensure the identification and penalization of the guilty in such matters. Slow and tardy judicial proceedings in an unsound judicial system only serve to encourage the inefficient and the corrupt.
(The author is a management consultant based in New Delhi; views are personal)
