’Kodagu landslides’ human action the cause

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 27, 2018: Undesired human activities and deforestation on the mountains were the main reasons behind the massive landslides in Kodagu, a team of experts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) revealed in the interim report submitted to the government here recently.

The expert team comprising IMD director K V Maruti, senior geologist Ankur Kumar Srivastav and geologist Sunandan Basu, after conducting a detailed study, submitted a report to the Kodagu deputy commissioner. The report recorded 105 minor and massive landslides, which resulted in a huge loss to public property.

On the request of the district administration, the expert team visited places that witnessed landslides between August 27 and September 1.

Indiscriminate chopping of trees, bulldozing of hills to promote tourism and conversion of thick, wooded forests into coffee plantations had blocked the natural flow of water. Huge lakes and open wells had been dug on the hills, which led to building up of pressure and eventually triggered the collapse of the hills, the report reveals.

IMD experts are also of the opinion that the natural landscape and slopes of the hills had been fragmented and disturbed to build roads, houses, homestays and resorts. Human interference and not rains was the main cause of the damage.