The Tripartite Struggle: Monsoons, Ghats and Politics in India

Monsoon, the backbone of Indian agriculture and also the cause of disasters like flooding, landslides, and gully erosion, is once again in politics. With thousands affected of basic needs in danger, the country has been diving into debates.

Ghats and their salience

 Western Ghats are the first to receive the South West branch of monsoon. Ghats are spread over the six states of Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. They are known for their environmental sensitivity owing to virgin lands inhabited by the tribals. The Western Ghats, forming one of the major watersheds in India, are also a biodiversity hotspot. With around 325 threatened species in the Ghats; they were rightly accorded the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.

Committee and reports

Havocs in Kerala and Tamil Nadu owing to floods caused by poor management of rainwater, infrastructure, and the failure of authorities have once again been politicized. The Madhav Gadgil Committee (2011), during Congress time, which they pretty much failed to implement, called for the declaration of eco-sensitive zones in 64% of the Western Ghats. It also asked for declaring the whole of Western Ghats ecologically sensitive, regulating developmental activities, and including local communities in conservation efforts. What followed was the Kasturirangan Committee (2012), which asked for 37% of such declarations to implement restrictions on mining and quarrying and demarcate ecologically sensitive areas. The Menon Committee and the NC Saxena Committee are a few others.

Competing Party and Politics

 Jairam Ramesh, from Congress, has accused the majority party of avoiding the Gadgil committee recommendations. The party itself ignored the Gadgil Committee owing to lobbying and restrictive policies, opposition from state governments, and fear of political backlash. Insensible opposition acts have been a prime cause of delay in developmental activities in Bharat. While the need of the hour is the participation of local authorities, people, and sustainable management, sensible politics is a must.

Closure

Ghats and monsoons are intertwined. Every act, havoc, or victim lowers the bar of politics. While forces of nature are out of humans’ power, channeling them is fairly possible. Western Ghats are ecologically fragile. With all-around participation and involvement from panchayats, local bodies, bureaucrats, and state and national governments, giving a backseat to politics, this consistent victim count can be rescued and rehabilitated.