Context: Recently, a study by a team of experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru, has highlighted the dangers of increased landslides, if the current development trend is allowed to continue.
Key Points

• Native vegetation cover including forest, scrub jungles, sacred groves have declined from45.44% of the land area to 44.46%
• Interior forest cover of the district had declined from 24% to 22.23%
• Rapid urbanisation has led to chaotic growth in the region and called for determining the rate and trend of land use conversion for devising a rational land use policy.

Recent amendments to land use policy in Karnataka

• The series of amendments to dilute the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961, which enables direct purchase of agricultural land from farmers for industries, and the purchase of agricultural land by non­ agriculturists, is worrying locals
• Floods impact the poorest strata of society the most, causing a loss of lives, livelihood options, and assets. There is a need for assessment of floods from a ‘sustainable development’ perspective.

Environmental damage is intensifying natural disasters
Causes of floods

• The root cause of such floods is the high precipitation levels and encroachment of water flowing areas.
• Anthropogenic factors like unscientific development and over-exploitation of nature aggravate the damages.
• The global climate has been changing in an unpredictable manner. 2019 July recorded 1.2 degree temperature rise from pre industrial levels.
• In the adjoining parts of Western Ghats structural transformation and changing patterns of land use are affecting its environment.
• loss in a wetland area will naturally impact the ability to handle floods

Impact of floods

• The changing precipitation alters the hydrological systems, resulting in floods and droughts in different regions.
•  concentrated rainfall affects crops and this leads to food shortage and rural distress
•  Floods wash away topsoil and substantial biodiversity of the area, resulting in a reduced river-water flow,
• This leads to death of earthworms and spread of viral and bacterial diseases.

Suggestions

• Adequate precautions through dam management and timely public alerts.
• 92% of dams are on intestate borders
• In construction, it is important to take appropriate decisions on the type and size of the structure, location, materials, and permissible damage it will cause to nature.
• We need to account for the damage done to natural ecosystems while estimating losses suffered due to natural disasters.