In the tropical India, Kalabaisakhi is not a new phenomenon. It comes in different forms and magnitude in summer months and the entire plant and animal populations suffer. Kalabaisakhi means an unexpected rise in atmospheric temperature for some reasons or the other.
Man is solely responsible for such kind of situations, which occur most often. The nature’s irritation is reflected through Kalabaisakhi. Both the general climate and microclimate are complementary to each other. When the general climate influences the general physiographic situations of the land, the microclimate influences the local physiographic situations. Hence, both the regional and the micro-regional or zonal climates influence the biodiversities. The microclimate is formed due to the presence of crop compositions of the micro-regions, natural bodies, atmospheric cleanness, atmospheric moisture contents, soil fertilities and soil moistures.
The sub-soil water table of a region also influences the climate of a micro region. If the compositions of nature is damaged or destroyed for any reason, then Kalabaisakhi is invited. ‘Kala’ means death and Baisakhi means it is related to the English month of April and May, when maximum temperature from the sun is directly received. The radiation of heat is maximum in the surface of earth during this period, which causes a disastrous situation. As the men and birds are warm blooded animals, they cannot tolerate the atmospheric temperature, when it becomes more than their body temperature. So they meet death for the unusual atmospheric temperature of a region. The multistoried crop compositions, right from ground flora to top stored vegetative canopies, always prevent the sun-rays to reach directly to ground and heat up the atmospheric wind for creation of Kalabaisakhi. When the urbanizations and urban developments are going on very fast and the natural vegetation in composite forms provided by the nature is lost, it sows the seeds of Kalabaisakhi. The deposition of carbon dioxide and other foreign particles makes the atmosphere prone to radiation.
In the plant kingdom, three types of plant species are noticed which have different ecological values, especially for utilisation of water requirements. The water requirement and availability of water to the plant community always are the guiding factors that uphold the bio-mass. Every green species has high requirement of water for its sustenance which differs from species to species and plant to plant depending on soil conditions. The plants keep the entire atmosphere cool and saturated. In drier areas and especially in arid zones and semiarid conditions, extensive plantations are required. Second types of species are semi-evergreen, which remain leafless within a very short period of the year. These species can keep the whole atmosphere wet and very soothing. In cities and towns, large scale plantations should be carried out with ever-green and semi evergreen species. The tree planters should have the fundamental knowledge of silviculture or the plant culture.
A few days back the writer, on a tour to Sambalpur, experienced atmospheric temperature beyond 42 degree C. Due to the severe heat, it was not possible to move anywhere. The streets of the city wore a deserted look. The writer served in the zone during seventies and eighties while in Government job. The western Odisha was once popularly known as summer resort of tourists to escape the hot summer in other parts of the State. The water sources and wetlands having various water reserves and water capitals were present within the city of Sambalpur and the hills and the plains of the city were almost covered with evergreen Sal forests. The situation is no more now. The land is more prone to heat of the summer than ever. Human beings are responsible for inviting the Kalabaisakhi. The natural water bodies as well as the hills and valleys as far as practicable should be protected for their biological functions. The laws of the nature should always be respected, if we want the normal situation to prevail.
The prevailing National Forest Policy of India says that one-third of the total land areas of the country should be under forests or tree cover. In the hills and in mountainous regions, the aim should be to maintain “two third” of the area under such cover in order to prevent erosion and land degradation to ensure the stability of the fragile eco-system.
Odisha is a mining State. Every inch of land contains mines and minerals. So we need to be very careful about creating new vegetations and protecting the existing ones.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)