The death toll due to the deadly landslides in Wayanad, Kerala has touched the 200 mark and is likely to increase further as many are still feared trapped in the debris of the catastrophic landslides and over 200 people are reported missing. On the other hand, a war of words began after Union Home Minister Amit Shah told the Rajya Sabha that the Centre had alerted the Kerala government on July 23, warning of possible danger in and around Wayanad. Shah said that despite the alert by the Centre, the Kerala government did not shift the people to safer places and the evacuation happened after the disaster. Kerala Chief Minister Vijayan refuted the claim but sought to play down the issue, saying it was no time for a blame game.
The Wayanad disaster brings back the focus on the 13-year-old report on Western Ghats. The report has warned against activities such as indiscriminate quarrying and construction in Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) of the Western Ghats, including regions like Wayanad. The report recommended a complete ban on new urban development in the Western Ghats region to prevent habitat destruction and pollution. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as the Gadgil Commission, chaired by Madhav Gadgil, had specifically cautioned against anti-environmental activities. The report submitted to the Centre in August 2011 highlighted the critical need to protect the region’s fragile ecology to prevent such disasters.
The panel established by the Centre to evaluate the environmental sensitivity of the Western Ghats and the potential impacts of the climate crisis in the region, recommended that 75 per cent of the 129,037 sq km area of the mountain range be designated as ecologically sensitive. This recommendation was based on the presence of dense forests, a large number of endemic species, and unique geology. In its report, the panel had proposed to categorise Ecologically Sensitive Areas and Zones across the Western Ghats. As per the panel report, Sulthan Bathery, Vayittiri, and Manantavadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district need to be placed in the ESZ-I (eco-sensitive zone) category, indicating the highest level of ecological sensitivity.
After the report faced opposition from some state governments and industry groups, the recommendations were further reviewed and modified by the Kasturirangan Committee in 2013, which proposed a more balanced approach. It sought to balance ecological protection with developmental needs, allowing for some regulated development while preserving critical ecological zones. Moreover, the effects of climate change have led to changes in monsoon trends. As a result, there has been a steady rise in extreme events in Kerala over the last decade. Climate change and unplanned development are something that cannot be taken lightly. The Wayanad disaster sends a message to the government and people to act before it is too late.
