Mangaluru: The name 'Western Ghats,' would bring before us a picture of evergreen forests, smoothly flowing rivulets and the cool ambience.
Not anymore. Over the years, there have been overwhelming changes and this year, environmentalists feel there is an alarming change. Water in the rivulets of the Western Ghats has almost dried up and the cool breeze is now replaced by hot wind even atop the hills of the Ghats.
"We go trekking in the Western Ghats to see the waterfalls as they will be filled with water now. But this year, to our surprise, there is hardly any water in the falls and rivulets. The amount of water in the catchment areas and river origins has decreased alarmingly. Though people below the Ghats have received some rains, the Ghats and Shola forest area which usually get good rains have not received enough this time. What’s worrisome is that the river origins too have been damaged due to various reasons,” Sahyadri Sanchaya convener Dinesh Holla told Deccan Chronicle.
"On one side the amount of rain is less. In addition to this, the catchment areas and origin points of the rivers have been damaged due to human interference.
The uncontrolled construction of resorts and homestays, the encroachments and various projects including power projects have resulted in decrease in water level in the rivers. The present level of water in the rivulets is almost equal to the level which we used to see during February and March! Local villagers and tribals are no doubt concerned," he said.
Holla feels this situation is same in almost all the places in the Ghats. "Be it Mrityujaya river, Kapila, Aniyuru or Bandaje river, the level of water has decreased in all these rivers," he added.
Mangaluru University Marine Geology department HOD Dr B.R. Manjunath says that the amount of rain too has decreased this year due to El Nino effect.
"The amount of rain is also less due to El Nino. Meanwhile, human interference in the catchment areas is also a cause of concern. Though government projects will not harm the catchment areas, private projects need to be monitored and controlled," he felt.
Interesitngly, when many people in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have hardly taken the water and environment crisis seriously, a Swedish student has shown interest in studying nature.
Stina Johansson of Sweden has done a Masters thesis on 'Exploring Environmental Justice - a study on environmental movements’ engagements with water conflicts in Mangalore- India.’
"I had been to India before as a tourist. I wanted to learn more about some aspects of environmental conflicts and the complex concept of sustainability, from a social-environmental perspective. The region around Mangalore, DK and the Western Ghats was suitable since water issues are pronounced here," she told Deccan Chronicle.
