Search operations continue after landslides hit Mundkaa raft in Wayanad 1. August (file) | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakat
A study conducted on Mundakkai-Chooralmal landslides from the Scientific Study Committee of the People’s Scientific Studio established by Transition Studies and Western Ghats Samrakshan Samiti found that landslide was a “gray rhino”, a highly probable event that was ignored despite visible warranty brands. This report, independently assembled by a diverse team of experts after a ten -month study, examines the causes of the disaster and offers recommendations that can be prevented from future tragedies.
The “Sliding Earth, Scattered Lives” report will be published on 13 September at the event in Kalpetta. The report notes that landslide occurred in an area that was categorized by a number of government documents and documents as a area prone to landslides and has been hit by several landslides, especially in the recent past. According to the finding, landslide is due to excessive human intervention in nature at global and local level.
One of the key findings of the report is that Western Ghats is facing an increase in risks from landslides due to uncontrolled development and degradation of the environment. The report identifies specific geological, climatic and human induced factors contributing to disaster.
The Committee recommends that development activities in the western ghats have to observe strict environmental regulations. The creators of politicians and the parties involved should prefer ecological development to alleviate the risks of land landslides. Local communities must be involved in planning and monitoring development projects to ensure sustainability. The report requires updated policies to address the environmental challenges of the region and prevent future disasters. Laws should be adopted to remove people and settlements from land drying.
Plans to respond to landslide
Mepadi Panchayat must prepare plans for emergency reactions specific to land -specific reactions, which include criteria for sounding soil alerts, a regulation system that achieves all risk, plan and organization for rescue, evacuation, relief and rehabilitation of people and home animals. Panchayat should have the power to determine the scope of development – change of land use, extent of plantations and development that should be allowed.
The report states that the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) should try to create a hyper-luminous meteorological prediction for 1 km x 1 km of areas for areas of susceptible landslides and place them in a public domain. There should be optimal coverage of Kerala with doppler radars. Weather models should be developed that simulate Indian conditions. Cloudburst events need to be thoroughly examined and the necessary practical steps need to be recommended to avoid disasters, and these should be communicated to the endangered communities.
Long -term measures
Among the long-term measures, the report states that the state government must be fully decarbonized by 2045-50 by 2045-50. The state government should ask the Union’s government to lobby at the COP sessions to become a central main principle for solving the climate crisis.
The report calls on the State Government to make a recommendation by an expert who set up land landslides, as well as the recommendations of the Ecology Expert Expert Expert Ghats (WGEEP), the environmentally sensitive area of the Sahydri (SESA) area and the Kodacadri Sensitive Area report). The government should offer a public explanation unless any provisions are made.
The Folk Committee, which has prepared a study, includes CP Rajendran, geologist, National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bangalore; Sagar Dhara, Risk Analyst, former UNEP; S. Abhilash, Climatologist, Cusat; TV SUJEEV, kfri; TA VISHNUDAS, expert in biodiversity, Hume Center, Kalpetta; Chervayal Raman, a traditional conservator of rice variety; Smitha P. Kumar, botanist and other experts from all over the country.
Published – September 20, 2025 05:03
