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02-06-2025
- Climate
- Scroll.in
Jammu & Kashmir: Ramban downpour devastation was made worse by construction
On April 19, Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, was carrying a load of 600 apple boxes in his truck when he left from Shopian district. While on his way, heavy rainfall began to lash the region, forcing the closure of roads. Bashir parked his truck near Ramban town, hoping to resume his journey once the weather cleared. However, on the intervening night of April 19 and 20, landslides triggered by incessant rains struck the region. 'My fellow driver and I were sleeping in the truck when we heard a loud rumbling noise – landslides and stones crashing down from the mountains,' he said. 'We immediately ran to a safer place.' When daylight broke the next morning, Bashir was distraught to find his truck buried under debris. 'The truck along with the apples was completely damaged,' he said. The truck, valued at around Rs 20 lakh, was carrying apples worth Rs 5 lakh scheduled for delivery in Delhi. Bashir's story is just one among hundreds affected by the massive natural calamity that struck the hilly district of Ramban. On April 19 and 20, heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and cloudbursts triggered flash floods that wreaked havoc across the district, particularly affecting the Ramban town and its surrounding villages. The flash floods caused widespread destruction, particularly to a 10 kilometre stretch of the vital Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, cutting off traffic movement for days. According to the India Meteorological Department, Ramban district received over 117 millimetres of rainfall between April 19 and the morning of April 21, with the heaviest downpour recorded during the intervening night of April 19-20. Widespread destruction Brijesh Kumar, a resident of Ramban, vividly recalled the terrifying night. 'It felt like there was a massive explosion around 3 am during the intervening night of April 19-20,' he said. 'Mud and rocks came crashing down from the mountains, blocking the highway and burying dozens of vehicles. Hundreds of homes were damaged, and many were completely washed away.' Another local, Ravi Kumar, spoke of his personal tragedy. 'Both my shops were swept away by the flash floods,' he said. 'I lost my entire livelihood in just one night.' The devastation left residents in shock, struggling to comprehend the scale of destruction. Ramban legislator Arjun Singh told Mongabay India that 80% of the town had been affected. 'We have never seen such devastation in our lives,' he added. 'Many villages were left without electricity or mobile connectivity for days. Several areas remained inaccessible due to debris and damaged roads.' Preliminary figures of the government reveal the staggering scale of the damage. Three people died and nearly 10,000 livestock – including sheep, goats, and cattle – were killed. At least 109 residential homes were completely destroyed, while 227 others suffered partial damage. A total of 67 commercial structures, including shops, business establishments, and hotels, were fully damaged, and 78 others sustained partial damage. The floods also destroyed 96 private vehicles and 126 commercial vehicles. Additionally, over 3,000 vehicles were stranded along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for several days due to landslides and avalanches. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the areas and assured proper rehabilitation and compensation to victims. Director of the Meteorological Department Kashmir, Mukhtar Ahmad, said that they had issued an advisory warning of a western disturbance impacting Jammu and Kashmir from April 18. 'We had already advised that inclement weather could lead to a rise in water levels in rivers, streams, and nallahs – and unfortunately, that is what happened,' he said. According to a Jammu & Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority report, the Union Territory has long been vulnerable to both natural and human-induced disasters due to its peculiar topography, rugged terrain, extreme weather conditions, and underdeveloped infrastructure. 'Hazards such as earthquakes, flash floods, fires, droughts, avalanches, and landslides frequently result in the loss of human lives and extensive damage to public and private property,' the report says. Construction, human activity Experts believe that the scale of the recent disaster was worsened by human activities, particularly unplanned construction and infrastructure development. Yudhbir Singh, a geologist at the University of Jammu, pointed to a combination of natural and human-induced factors behind the devastation. 'It was undoubtedly a natural calamity, but the magnitude of the damage was amplified by human interference,' he said. 'We have witnessed a tremendous surge in construction activities, including road development and private infrastructure projects.' He explained that many natural water channels in the region have been blocked by construction. 'When rainfall occurs and these channels are blocked, there is no path for the water to flow,' he told Mongabay India. 'As a result, water levels rise uncontrollably, flooding villages and triggering flash floods. There are several places where buildings have been raised directly on old water channels, blocking the natural drainage paths.' He further stressed the urgent need for comprehensive planning, including the construction of concrete embankments along rivers and the proper diversion of floodwaters. 'Without proper flood channel management, we are inviting future disasters,' he said, pointing out that the construction of the four-lane highway had further increased vulnerabilities. 'At several places, debris from mountain excavation was simply dumped to construct roads over it. These makeshift foundations are prone to collapse during heavy rains, triggering landslides.' Citing an example, he noted that in one area where a landslide had occurred years ago, people built houses over the unstable land, resulting in a land-sinking incident last year. 'Blasting and drilling during construction have also weakened the soil in several areas,' he added. Another geologist, SK Pandita of Jammu University, said that while the construction of tunnels on the highway was largely carried out using drilling and boring, with minimal use of blasting, the problem lay elsewhere. 'Massive damage occurred due to the construction of hotels, houses, and shops without proper planning,' Pandita said. 'When we block natural drainage systems, where will the water go during rainfall? The water naturally overflows into settlements.' He added that while the recent disaster was triggered by rainfall and a cloudburst, the lack of proper drainage infrastructure turned what could have been a manageable event into a catastrophe. Mohammad Rafi, a researcher, said the recent tragedy in Ramban serves as a wake-up call for the region. 'While natural factors like heavy rainfall and cloudbursts are inevitable, proper urban planning, strict regulations on construction, preservation of natural drainage systems, and scientific road development are crucial to minimising the impact of such disasters,' he said. He also pointed out that there are many hydro power projects in the area. 'If there are flash floods, the dams could also burst at any time,' he added. 'We need proper planning to meet any eventuality in the future.'
Scroll.in
28-05-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
Farmer seek MSP for natural farming produce
Devlal Munda, who lives in Kaudi village of Ramgarh district in Jharkhand, was doing chemical farming on his 1.5-acre ancestral land till 2023. Due to the extensive use of chemical fertilisers and the vagaries of climate change, the quality of soil started deteriorating. Farm-friendly insects had also started disappearing from his farm. The yield was good, but the expenditure on fertilisers was increasing year after year, which started bothering him. In the same year, he came to know about the agroecology-based programme, JIVA, launched by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to promote natural farming. It was being promoted by the Gramin Seva Sangh and the Patratu Tribal Project Development Committee, with the help of the national agriculture and rural development bank. Six villages – Lem, Bicha, Armadag, Jobo, Kodi and Lowadih – from Saki, Baridih and Bicha panchayats in Patratu block – were selected for the implementation of this scheme. 'In this project, which was started with the help of Rs 30 lakh from NABARD, farmers were trained to adopt natural farming. They were taught how to make cow dung manure and seeds were provided to them for free,' Vilas Sathe, Gramin Seva Sangh secretary, told Mongabay India. Munda decided to take advantage of this scheme. However, he had to face many difficulties. Market is the weakest link In 2023, 80 farmers, including Munda, from six villages started practising natural farming on parts of their ancestral land. By the next year, the number of these farmers increased to 125. They started growing vegetables in their baris (kitchen gardens) along with paddy. Since initially there were not many indigenous paddy seeds available for natural cultivation, these farmers kept their produce for consumption and sale as seeds. They adopted the same method in 2024 as well. But this year, their problems are going to increase. Munda told Mongabay India, 'When the seeds are available to everyone, then who will buy them? We are all trying to find a market for paddy. But for this, the production will have to be increased and one-fourth of the farmers of the area will have to be connected to natural farming.' Ram Kumar Oraon, who lives in the nearby Bichha village, told Mongabay India, 'We are going to the market, but no one is ready to buy our paddy. Traders say that our produce is coarse. Our ask is that if the government rate is Rs 22- Rs 23, we should get Rs 28- Rs 30.' A three-year study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Indian Institute of Farming Systems and Research mentions that medium and small farmers in India do not have any marketing channels to sell their produce directly to consumers. Thus, farmers practicing Zero Budget Natural Farming face real constraints in marketing their produce, which impacts their income. When the National Mission on Natural Farming was launched in November 2024, it mentioned that farmers would be provided with an easy certification system and uniform branding so that their natural farm produce could reach the market. The plan was to enable their natural farming produce to reach the market. It will be geo-tagged and referenced in real-time through an online portal. However, Ishtiyaq Ahmed, who is associated with the 'Regenerative Bihar' campaign and works with 3,000 farmers, told Mongabay India, 'Nearly 86%-87% farmers in India are marginal farmers. They do not have the capacity to take their produce to the market on their own, as they use most of it themselves. In such a situation, creating a strong chain of aggregators is more important than branding products.' Experts suggest that there is a need to come up with innovative ways of linking the market to the farmers. Ahmed says, 'We distribute meals in school under the mid-day meal scheme as well as in Anganwadis. We can connect the farmers who have adopted natural farming to these schemes. We already have readymade markets in villages. We must think innovatively now.' Elaborating on practical difficulties, Oraon says, 'We did talk to some schools about buying Ragi. They are buying the flour for Rs 45 per kg. On the other hand, we sell our ragi crop Rs 45. Buying flour, cleaning it and grinding it reduces the price by 10%-12%. It includes labour costs as well. Our flour was costing Rs 60 per kg.' The farmers also face a lot of difficulties while selling organically-produced vegetables. Unlike paddy, it is very difficult to store vegetables for even a day or two due to the lack of cold storage facilities in villages. In such a situation, they have to sell their vegetables at the same rate as the chemically-grown vegetables, that too in their villages. 'Right now, no big company is buying vegetables from us,' says Munda. 'We are not able to sell vegetables commercially. We face more problems selling than growing. The problem is that our products are not getting enough recognition. Even if people are keen to buy, they get discouraged after looking at the rates.' However, food and agriculture policy expert Devinder Sharma has a slightly different opinion. He tells Mongabay India, 'Farming has a price. We have left it to the environment. For every kilo of food we consume, we cause three times more damage to the environment. People need to be made aware of that cost. The government needs to start a campaign to raise awareness.' Separate support price In India, agricultural policy is primarily built around Minimum Support Price, a system that was introduced in the 1960s. Back in the day, the objective was to motivate farmers to grow crops like rice and wheat with the help of new technology after the Green Revolution. The aim was to protect farmers from market uncertainties and get them a better price for their produce. At present, 22 crops are included in this scheme. If we talk about paddy, the support price of the normal variety of paddy has increased by Rs 243 in three crop years. However, there is no mention of a separate MSP in the National Mission on Natural Farming. It does, however, mention that natural farming methods will help farmers reduce the cost of cultivation and their dependence on resources purchased from outside. 'There should be a separate system for MSP. The indigenous crops being produced using natural farming methods should get a higher rate than chemically-produced crops. We should get at least 20% to 25% more,' demands Oraon. Agricultural experts also agree with Oraon. Ahmed says, 'Just promoting it will not do anything. We do not have MSP for natural farming. There is no system of government procurement. So, how will we get a different rate?' The main objective of promoting natural farming is to save agriculture from the ill effects of climate change. That is why experts like Sharma suggest adding environmental value to it. He says, 'The price that natural farming should be fetching needs to be seen from the perspective of ecosystem service. Natural farming improves the quality of soil and helps save water, so its value should be determined. It should then be linked to MSP. Until and unless incentives are spelled out, farmers will not be encouraged to take it up.' Seeds and natural fertilisers Natural farming is not a new concept in India or in the tribal- dominated state of Jharkhand. Farmers have been farming in the traditional way for generations. But, in the 1960s, the Green Revolution was adopted with the aim of becoming self-sufficient in grain production and the yield increased manifold. Due to this, indigenous seeds also started vanishing. If we talk only about paddy, then we have lost about 94% of our rice varieties. This is why when farmers from Kaudi village of Ramgarh district went out in search of indigenous paddy seeds in 2023, they found only three varieties. Munda says that in 2024, the number went up from three to five. 'To tackle the issue of vanishing seeds, an exhibition of indigenous seeds was organised in Kaudi village in 2023. Those who donated indigenous seeds were rewarded,' informs Sathe. Another practical problem is regarding cow dung manure. Although there is an emphasis on the use of dung of indigenous cows in natural farming, farmers are using dung of all kinds of cattle. Munda says that it is very difficult to do natural farming by relying only on cow dung. Balkrishna Jha, a scientist associated with natural farming at the Ranchi Research Centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, told Mongabay, 'Decrease in livestock led to a scarcity of natural fertilisers, hence farmers switched to chemical fertilisers. In addition, 10 to 15 tonnes of cow dung manure is needed for one hectare. It is a bit difficult to carry so much manure. Farmers can easily bring a bag of manure on a bicycle or bike.' Although natural farming is cost-effective, the yield is also less in the initial years. Hence, the study by Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Indian Institute of Farming Systems emphasises on a large-scale assessment before trying out natural farming.
Scroll.in
28-04-2025
- Scroll.in
Elusive caracal caught on camera, renewing conservation efforts
On March 14, 2025, a surprising sight was captured in the heart of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota, Rajasthan. A rare and elusive member of the cat family – the caracal – was recorded by a camera trap for the first time in the region. Rajasthan's Forest Minister, Sanjay Sharma, shared a photograph of the caracal on social media and said, 'On this vibrant day of Holi, the Rajasthan Forest Department is excited to share the first photographic record of the caracal in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. The winter Phase IV survey of the tiger reserve recorded this camera trap image of the caracal. The strong protection regime of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve serves as an umbrella to protect elusive small cats like the caracal.' The rare sighting has renewed interest in the conservation of the caracal. 'All tiger reserves conduct three-spot surveys. The first is a sign survey, second is a transect line survey and the third is camera trapping. This winter was the first time that a Phase IV survey was carried out in the season, and this caracal was recorded,' said Muthu Somasundaram, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of Mukundra National Park. Somasundaram notes that the caracal might be dispersing from its nearest known range, which includes Ranthambore, Kailadevi, and Dholpur. 'The species typically has a large home range, so it's possible this individual moved in from Bundi or Kota. Interestingly, the camera trap image also includes a hare,' he added. The forest department now plans to increase the number of camera traps in the location the caracal was spotted and in the surrounding areas, to better understand its presence and range. 'Caracals are nocturnal animals, which makes them even harder to study. All the images we've captured so far have been during night time. The goal is to maximise the chances of capturing more images and learning about its movements,' Somasundaram told Mongabay India. Where the caracal roams The caracal has a deep-rooted historical presence in India. In 1616, Mughal emperor Jahangir reportedly hunted one near Ajmer. Alongside cheetahs, caracals were praised by royals for their agility and used in hunts, known by their Persian name siyah gosh (black-eared one). Today, there is no official estimate of India's caracal population; media reports suggesting around 50 individuals, are unsubstantiated. According to Dharmendra Khandal, co-author of the book Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat and Executive Director of Tiger Watch, caracals once ranged across 13 states but are now confined to Gujarat, Rajasthan, and parts of Madhya Pradesh. A study by Khandal and others documented 134 caracal records from 1616 to 2020. The species' range has shrunk drastically from 794,000 square kilometres pre-1947 to just 16,709 square kilometres in 2020 – a 95.95% decline. Globally listed as least concern by the IUCN, the caracal is considered near threatened in India and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This makes the first-ever camera-trap capture in Mukundra Tiger Reserve, all the more significant. Khandal noted that this is the first A-category (photographic) record of a caracal from Mukundra in two decades, despite camera trapping since 2012. The last known record from Mukundra dates to 1962. Until recently, such records were limited to Gujarat and a few districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. With recent confirmations from Bundi and now Kota, Rajasthan now has photographic evidence from six districts – an encouraging sign for caracal conservation. An earlier study by Khandal and his team, recorded 176 caracal images from 23 sites in Rajasthan between 2015 and 2020. Muthu Somasundaram pointed out that the semi-arid ecosystems of central Rajasthan and Gujarat suit the caracal's habitat needs. 'Regular camera trapping in protected areas like tiger reserves boosts the chances of detecting elusive species like the caracal, which might otherwise go unnoticed,' he said. Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, Additional Director General of Forests (Project Tiger) and Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), told Mongabay India, 'The caracal's landscape lies in the Chambal region. I personally saw them two to three times in Ranthambore many years ago. Now that we have photographic records from Mukundra and Ramgarh Vishdhari, there is a need for a comprehensive study on the species to better understand its population, behaviour, and habitat.' As a member of the cat family, the caracal's presence is an indicator of a balanced and healthy ecosystem. These cats help regulate the populations of rodents and other small mammals, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological stability. Outside protected areas Khandal also noted an important pattern – all caracal sightings in Rajasthan have occurred within tiger reserves. 'This suggests that these well-managed habitats offer safer conditions. Though Sariska hasn't had confirmed records since 2012, I believe caracals may still exist there,' he said. However, some suggest that potential habitats outside these protected areas should also be studied for their presence. Wildlife biologist Sumit Dookia pointed out that a 1999 record of Jalore district published by the Bombay Natural History Society, hints at the caracal's presence beyond reserves – indicating a need to revisit historical data to assess its wider distribution. Dookia said that while there's no scientific evidence of caracals in western Rajasthan outside reserves, locals occasionally report sightings. A recent video from Pakistan's Cholistan Desert – ecologically similar to western Rajasthan or Thar desert – suggests suitable habitat exists. 'I believe the Mukundra sighting hints at a possibly wider presence and immediate government-led conservation efforts is important for the species,' Dookia added. Need for baseline data In 2021, the National Board of Wildlife and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change included the caracal in a plan to conserve 22 priority species. However, Dharmendra Khandal stressed the need for thorough scientific studies before taking action. Instead, Khandal suggests focussing on more studies to understand where caracals live, their food habits, habitat preferences, and population status. 'Solid baseline data is essential for crafting effective conservation strategies suited to India's semi-arid regions,' Khandal said. While the Mukundra sighting is promising, experts urge cautious optimism. Joy Gardner of the Jaipur-based nonprofit Hope and Beyond, cautioned against calling the recent Mukundra caracal recording as a breakthrough, noting that it was a chance capture from tiger-focused camera traps. 'No targeted efforts have been made to study caracals. We need focused surveys in deeper forest zones, where more individuals might be found,' he said. Shekhar Kolipaka, biosocial conservation researcher from Leiden University, echoed a similar sentiment, warning that caracals are struggling in degraded scrublands and need urgent, in-depth studies to assess their status in modern India.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts raise alarm after satellite images expose mass devastation in critical region: 'One more night, and it should be gone'
Deforestation has long been a major factor in our changing climate, which is why its impact is certainly noticeable in communities all around the world. For residents of Telangana, India, the destruction of a vital urban forest will cause untold damage. The Telangana government in India had planned to auction off 400 acres of the Kancha Gachibowli forest land, which is located around the University of Hyderabad. Crews were sent in and ordered to clear the area, Telangana Today reported. The intention was to build an IT park inside the cleared land. However, this was met by a large protest organized by university students, faculty, and environmentalists. The organized protest, accompanied by a petition, argues that they "are fighting for our planet" by preventing the destruction of Kancha Gachibowli. Despite the public outcry, officials continued with the plans to clear the forest. From late March to early April, large swaths of Kancha Gachibowli were completely razed. Satellite imagery taken of the area and shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, demonstrated the rapid and complete destruction of hundreds of acres, according to India Today. "A mere few days and it's nearly cleaned up. One more night, and it should be gone," the post on X said, per Telangana Today. As noted by Mongabay India, Kancha Gachibowli can be described as an open natural ecosystem with "a mix of dry deciduous and wet deciduous forests, savannah, scrubland, rocky outcrops and more." The forest is also noted as one of the last remaining green spaces around Hyderabad. According to estimates from the Economic Times, Kancha Gachibowli is home to over 220 species of birds, 734 species of flowering plants, 15 species of reptiles, 10 species of mammals, as well as numerous insects. In the 2024 Forest Declaration Assessment report, deforestation took out around 6.37 million hectares in 2023. Deforestation can dramatically alter natural landscapes for crops and livestock, as the Forest Stewardship Council International explained, affecting our food chain. The destruction of trees can greatly increase the amount of carbon gas pollution as well, since trees naturally absorb carbon dioxide, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented on the destruction of Kancha Gachibowli, emphasizing the importance of the natural resource. "They are busy razing forests. Their acts resulted in damage of forest land and death of innocent animals that inhabited the Kancha Gachibowli lands," Modi said, per M9 News. "The Congress is busy, busy killing a thriving forest by sending bulldozers." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. An Indian Supreme Court order has temporarily halted the destruction of the Kancha Gachibowli. In an effort to reverse their decision, Mongabay India reported that the Telangana government is now considering building a 2,000-acre eco-forest park instead. According to the report, the eco-park would be reminiscent of Central Park in New York City. However, the proposed eco-park has been met with resistance. Akash Kumar, vice president of the University of Hyderabad Students' Union, criticized the idea of stripping the Kancha Gachibowli forest of its natural state. "Why not leave that patch of land as it is? This is a natural forest, looked after by students from the beginning," Kumar told Mongabay India. "They can protect it without turning it into a tourist spot that can be tampered with." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study makes staggering discovery about fatality rates of prevalent disease — here's what you need to know
A new study projects that dengue fever, a disease carried by mosquitoes, will become more deadly in one Indian city as global temperatures continue to rise. The research, summarized by Mongabay India, projects that dengue mortality could rise by 13% in the Indian city of Pune by 2040, even in low-emissions scenarios. Meanwhile, high-emissions scenarios could push dengue-related mortalities up by 23% to 40% by midcentury and by 30% to 112% as we near the end of the century. The authors attribute these possible outcomes to changes in rainfall and increased temperatures. This is one of the first regional analyses of the climate-dengue connection and can help serve as a framework for future studies, according to the research team. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The climate-dengue relation is region specific," lead author Sophia Yacob told Mongabay. "However, the methodology and model framework used in this study can be adapted to develop region-specific dengue models for other areas, as long as the city or district shares the local health data with us." Vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and malaria are expected to rise as conditions become more favorable for mosquitoes in a warmer, wetter world. For instance, dengue fever was reported in record numbers in 2024, doubling over the previous year. Los Angeles County even issued a warning after four locally acquired dengue cases popped up. Amid the rising threat of mosquito-spread illnesses, scientists are looking for new ways to cull mosquito populations. For instance, Djibouti deployed a controversial method that involves releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to kill the disease-spreading ones. A team of Spanish scientists is sterilizing an invasive mosquito species to help combat dengue fever in Europe. And when San Diego County discovered its first-ever locally acquired case of dengue in the fall of 2024, it quickly sprayed 170 homes for mosquitoes in an attempt to halt the potential spread of the virus. Meanwhile, vaccines offer hope. For instance, a $70 million pilot program testing malaria vaccines in Africa decreased deaths by 13% among young children over a period of four years. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
