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News24
04-07-2025
- Climate
- News24
More cold, wet weather to lash Western Cape over the weekend
More cold and wet weather is expected in the Western Cape over the weekend. Between 20 and 30mm of rain is expected. Authorities are on high alert for flooding and mudslides, with a week of wet weather having left the ground saturated. The Western Cape is expecting around 20 to 30mm of rain as more severe weather lashes the province. A series of cold fronts is expected to affect the province from Friday to Sunday. The most significant cold front is forecast to make landfall on Friday, bringing heavy downpours, strong winds, and the risk of flooding in several areas. A second cold front is expected on Sunday. According to Western Cape Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning MEC Anton Bredell, the provincial Disaster Management Centre (DMC), as well as district centres, had been activated. Bredell said the DMC had been briefed by the South African Weather Services (SAWS) about the anticipated disruptive rainfall over large parts of the province. The SAWS has released an advisory warning that very cold, wet and windy conditions can be expected over the Western Cape into Sunday. Weather warnings are in place for disruptive rainfall, damaging winds and damaging waves. 'These warnings follow several days of significant rainfall that have already saturated soils across the province,' said Bredell. 'The forecasted rainfall may lead to flooding, mudslides, rockfalls, and falling trees, while the expected strong winds and wave action may cause hazardous conditions along the coast.' Weather forecast for today & tomorrow, 04 - 05 July 2025. Rain & showers are expected over the southern & eastern parts of the country, with possible disruptive rain and damaging winds over the south-western parts, as well as disruptive snow over the Drakensberg mountains. — SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) July 4, 2025 Bredell added that rescue workers were on standby to assist with flooding and mudslides, especially in low-lying areas and communities living alongside rivers. He said the DMC had carried out modelling to anticipate which areas were likely to be affected, and had deployed resources to those areas. The DMC would continue to monitor the conditions, especially as weather patterns could shift very quickly. Bredell said that traffic officials were also on standby, and urged motorists to be extra cautious. Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said that unsafe road conditions – including reduced visibility, waterlogged surfaces, and flooding of low-lying areas and bridges – could be expected. 'We call on all residents and visitors to the Western Cape to prioritise safety as inclement weather conditions set in. Our Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement officers will monitor high-risk routes, attend to road closures where needed, and respond to incidents to keep our road network as safe as possible. We ask all road users to do their part by driving responsibly and remaining alert,' he added. Sileku said the Western Cape and local traffic officers remained on high alert and would provide assistance where needed. Bredell added that the Department of Water and Sanitation had confirmed that provincial dam levels had increased from 60% to 67% following recent rainfall. As a precautionary measure, the department had increased the frequency of its dam monitoring efforts across the province, he said. 'We welcome the boost to our water resources, but we remain alert to the risks associated with these weather systems. 'We call on farmers and landowners to regularly inspect their dams and water infrastructure, and to report any signs of strain or overflow to their local disaster centres.'
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
J&K LG visits Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps to review arrangements for Amarnath Yatra
Jun 29, 2025 08:54 PM IST Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha visited the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps on Sunday to review the arrangements for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which is scheduled to begin from July 3. At the Nunwan base camp, the LG inaugurated a foot overbridge for smooth movement of the pilgrims.(PTI) At the Nunwan base camp, the LG inaugurated a foot overbridge for smooth movement of the pilgrims. The new facility will ensure efficient security checks and reduce the waiting time for the devotees, an official spokesperson said. Sinha interacted with administrative and security officials deputed for the Amarnath Yatra, and took stock of the security arrangements and preparations of stakeholder departments, the spokesperson said. The LG also reviewed the progress of the Disaster Management Centre and the Yatri Niwas at Nunwan. He reviewed various services for the pilgrims, including lodging, langar, power and water supply, sanitation, health facilities, traffic management, fire and emergency services and the deployment of security personnel. He directed telecom companies to deploy dedicated nodal officers at both the axis to ensure uninterrupted tele-connectivity. The LG also interacted with the doctors and the medical team at the Chandanwari base camp hospital and reviewed the healthcare arrangements for the pilgrims. "It is our top priority to ensure that the devotees of Shri Amarnathji complete their pilgrimage with ease and that their stay is safe and comfortable," Sinha said.
New Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Kerala's monsoon miseries: Unchecked growth and land abuse to blame
It has been raining heavily in Kerala since the second week of June. Rivers have been overflowing, low-lying areas have been inundated and normal life has been thrown out of gear. Going by the weather forecasts, the south-west monsoon, which arrived a little early on May 23, will gather momentum in the coming days. People are hugely worried about impending flooding and landslides. There was a time when Kerala eagerly awaited the arrival of the monsoon because it provided a big relief from the scorching summer and replenished the water table. But rain became a nightmare almost a decade ago. People's worries were compounded after the 2018 floods and the 2024 Wayanad landslides. How did this transformation happen? We asked this question to Kerala's prominent environmental activist SP Ravi and disaster management expert KG Thara. They said the scale of flood disasters in Kerala is no longer driven by rainfall alone, but by decades of unchecked development and widespread land use changes across the Western Ghats, midlands, and coastal zones. Ravi pointed out that widespread reclamation of paddy fields has significantly reduced the land's natural capacity to absorb rainwater. 'These reclaimed fields, which once acted as crucial water buffers, now channel excess rain directly into rivers, causing them to swell rapidly and increasing the risk of flooding,' he said. In 1971, Kerala had 8.75 lakh hectares of paddy fields. It has now shrunken to two lakh hectares. Ravi said Kerala's monsoon pattern has been shifting since the beginning of the millennium, but the changes went largely unnoticed. He cited successive droughts in 2003 and 2004 and extreme rainfall in 2007, 2013 and 2018 as pointers to a shift in the monsoon's behaviour. Since 2016, anomalies have become more frequent and severe, he said. 'That year saw the lowest rainfall in over a century, while Cyclone Ockhi in late 2017 shattered the long-standing belief that Kerala is safe from cyclonic impacts. Then came the catastrophic floods of 2018, affecting 12 out of 14 districts, followed by Cyclone Gaja, which originated in the Bay of Bengal and crossed the Western Ghats to impact Kerala,' he said. After the devastating floods of 2018, Kerala saw repeat floods in 2019, with northern districts like Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram suffering even worse devastation. 'Unlike the steady build-up of rains in 2018, 2019 saw a sharp turnaround. By late July, rainfall was 35% deficient, but this gap was erased in just a week of torrential downpours between August 6 and 13,' he said. Importance of urban planning Thara, who headed the state's Disaster Management Centre, blamed Kerala's urban planning failures for the increase in natural disasters. 'Kerala witnessed an 11.13% rise in built-up area in 2023, marking the highest building density per square kilometre in the past eight years. Tourist hotspots like Munnar, which saw nearly 17 lakh tourist influx recently, are facing immense pressure on their fragile ecosystems,' she said. Despite initiating studies on carrying capacity in ecologically sensitive regions like Munnar, recent policy changes raise concerns over sustainable development. 'In 2023, the Kerala Land Assignment Act of the 1960s was amended to empower the government to regularise illegal constructions. As a result, 226 unauthorised buildings in Munnar were legalised, undermining conservation efforts and raising alarm among environmentalists,' Thara said. She explained that Kerala's varied topography makes it highly vulnerable to landslides. 'Around 35% of the state lies at elevations below 50 metres, while 25% is situated above 500 metres. The remaining 40%, falling between 50 to 500 metres, is particularly prone to moderate to high-intensity landslides, raising concerns amid changing rainfall patterns and land-use practices.' Experts said the damage along national highways in Kerala is a clear case of a man-made disaster. Despite repeated warnings from locals about the region's vulnerability, such as landslide-prone slopes and disrupted river flows, construction went ahead, ignoring concerns. 'The disconnect between ground realities and expert decisions underscores the importance of public participation in planning. It's exactly what Madhav Gadgil emphasised in his report -- micro-zonation and demarcation of eco-sensitive zones in consultation with local bodies. Unfortunately, his recommendations were misrepresented as anti-development, leading to opposition. In hindsight, had his guidelines been followed, the environmental damage we see today could have been far less severe,' she said. The setting up of major infrastructure in ecologically sensitive areas, such as the Cochin International Airport on the floodplains of the Periyar River, has compounded the risks. 'Highway construction, especially NH66, has altered natural drainage, leaving many homes inundated each year,' Ravi said. Diminishing forest cover Ravi said Kerala, which had nearly 60% forest cover two centuries ago, now has less than 15% natural forest. 'Despite the forest department controlling over a quarter of the state's land, much of it is degraded or replaced by monoculture plantations, which no longer function as natural rain absorbers. In the past, evergreen forests and grasslands slowed the flow of rainwater, allowing it to percolate through the soil gradually. Today, with much of the Western Ghats denuded, rainfall rapidly turns into surface runoff, greatly increasing flood volumes and impacts, especially in vulnerable regions,' he said. Ravi observed that Kerala has made significant strides in disaster response and preparedness. Institutions like the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA), and local-level rapid response teams are now better equipped to handle emergencies. 'Communities, too, are playing an increasingly active role. Citizens in basins like Meenachil, Wayanad, and Chalakudy are engaged in real-time weather and river monitoring in collaboration with local governments and disaster authorities,' he said. Since the 2018 floods, dam management has improved, with major reservoirs like Idukki, Kakki, and Malampuzha implementing threshold curves and controlling early releases to reduce flood risks. However, this practice is not yet standardised across all dams, especially smaller ones. The state also lacks an integrated reservoir management strategy for multi-dam basins, which is crucial for coordinated water release during intense rainfall. Ravi said despite the improvement in all these matters, interstate dam management conflicts, particularly involving Tamil Nadu-controlled reservoirs in the Periyar and Chalakudy basins, remain a challenge, often resulting in unannounced water releases that jeopardise downstream communities. The construction of dams like Idukki led to reduced downstream monsoon flow, encouraging unchecked settlements along riverbanks. Over time, this urban encroachment has narrowed river channels and disrupted tributary flow, intensifying flood risks during extreme rainfall events. He warned that certain flood-prone areas experience inundation year after year. Long-term relocation of vulnerable populations is urgently needed to prevent recurring hardship. On the landslide front, sensitive zones still require targeted interventions and strategic relocation plans. Importance of Gadgil report The recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil Committee on Western Ghats conservation have been progressively diluted by successive governments. The Kasturirangan Committee, set up later, reduced the eco-sensitive zones from over 90% to around 35–40%, relying heavily on satellite imagery with minimal field verification. This led to serious mismatches. Areas like rubber plantations were wrongly classified as eco-sensitive, while ecologically critical natural forests were excluded. 'A further review by Kasturirangan diluted the report even more, resulting in only a small fraction of the Western Ghats now falling under protected zones, far from the ecological reality. Experts now call for micro-level mapping with active local participation, arguing that community insights are vital for accurate ecological classification,' Dr Thara said. What needs to be done? Experts stressed the urgent need for a Kerala-specific land use policy and micro-level disaster zonation, grounded in public participation and traditional wisdom. They argue that developmental models from foreign nations or other Indian states cannot be blindly replicated in Kerala, given the state's unique ecological vulnerabilities. 'Despite Kerala's exposure to multiple natural hazards, the state lacks a comprehensive building strategy tailored for vulnerable areas. While there are codal provisions for cyclones, earthquakes, and floods individually, there is no integrated, multi-hazard-resistant building code. This gap is not unique to Kerala, but a nationwide challenge in disaster management. Sustainable growth must be rooted in local realities,' Dr Thara said. She also emphasised the importance of Kerala-specific land-use planning and micro-level disaster zonation and added that, 'We can't blindly adopt international models. What works in Norway or the US won't necessarily work in our ecologically fragile terrain. We must integrate traditional wisdom and local participation into development plans.' 'Disasters will occur,' said Thara. 'But the real tragedy is when we fail to learn from them.'
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Betab Valley, Verinag and Kokernag gardens among tourist spots to reopen in Jammu and Kashmir
Nearly two months after the Pahalgam terror attack, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday announced that over a dozen tourist destinations across the Union Territory will be reopened in a phased manner from June 17. Over 50 tourist destinations in J&K were closed for tourists on April 29, days after 26 people were killed in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, pending a security review. The L-G, who is in Pahalgam to review the security situation ahead of the Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3, said: 'I've ordered reopening of some of the tourist spots in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures.' Among the destinations to be reopened on June 17 are Betab Valley, parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden and Achabal Garden, he said. Other destinations to be reopened in phased manner are Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar, Sarthal, Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba, Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur. On the Amarnath Yatra arrangements, L-G Sinha said, 'Over the last few years, we have increased many facilities for the yatris. The path to the cave is wider and we have also enhanced connectivity to the area. Capacity and quality of living arrangements for the yatris have also been improved.' The L-G also reviewed the progress of the Disaster Management Centre and Yatri Niwas at Nunwan Base Camp, Pahalgam. Earlier in the day, Sinha visited the residence of Syed Adil Hussain at Anantnag, the ponywala killed in the Pahalgam attack, and handed over an appointment letter to his wife Gulnaz Akhter on compassionate grounds. Soon after, the ruling National Conference announced that the appointment letter was already prepared by the Fisheries Department. In a post on X, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said, 'In moments of pain, politics must make way for compassion, and governance must honour its word.' 'We thank LG Sahab for handing over the job order that was already prepared by the Fisheries Department, a department under the elected government led by Minister Javed Dar,' Sadiq said. 'This reflects the maturity and responsibility shown by the elected government, we did not allow egos to come in the way, but stood by our commitment to Adil's family in their moment of grief,' he said. Sadiq highlighted that the state government had earlier given similar appointment letters to the kin of those killed in Pakistan shelling in Poonch. 'The job orders were later distributed by the home minister after the CM had personally visited and personally committed these jobs to the (affected) families immediately after the shelling,' Sadiq, who is also an MLA from Zadibal constituency, said.
