1,346 landslides in Western Ghats in two decades

11 Karnataka districts face environmental challenges from development in fragile areas

In less than two decades, the 11 districts in the western Ghat region of Karnataka, namely Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Dakshin Kannada, Shivamogga, Udupi, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Mysore, Belagavi, and Chikkaballapura, have experienced 1,346 landslide events.

Uttara Kannada received the biggest share of 588 landslide events, followed by 214 in Chikkamagaluru, 199 in Kodagu, and 147 in Dakshina Kannada.

The landslide inventory data is from 2006 to 2023 and is published by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.

Experts say with the state government rejecting the K Kasturirangan report, these events are expected to increase in the coming days.

“Increase in development activities in such fragile areas will only ensure a surge in these events over time. We have entered a vicious circle.

Population growth is the main factor leading to an increase in development activities, which in turn leads to environmental disasters triggering such events. The K Kasturirangan report is a scientific document and should be implemented without questioning it. However, if the government is not willing to do so entirely, the report can be used as a reference to understand the limits. Developmental activities in these districts should be taken up cautiously,” said Dr GS Srinivas Reddy, former director of Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.

“The high number of landslide events shows that these are ecologically fragile areas. People in these regions are facing issues mainly due to a lack of conservation efforts. The government’s rigid stand on the K Kasturirangan report will only lead to more landslides and other natural disasters, following the loss of forest landscape and biodiversity,” said Dr TV Ramachandra, Center for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

High number of landslide events show that these are ecologically fragile areas. People in these regions face issues due to lack of conservation efforts–Dr TV Ramachandra, IISc

Experts suggest that the state government should consider incentives based in these districts to promote conservation efforts instead of infrastructure facilities and other development activities.

“Rather than rejecting a scientifically backed report such as K Kasturirangan, the government should contemplate economic incentives to locals in these areas to promote conservation. Allowing limited extraction of resources from protected areas and providing direct payments for conservation have proven to be important incentives for local communities. Additionally, markets for environmental services should be promoted. Our political leaders are environmentally illiterate, which is hampering conservation efforts,” said a city-based conservationist.