Wounded Hills: A documentary on the environmental issues of the Western Ghats

00:20:28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTV-56QagQM

Summary

TLDRKerala, part of the Western Ghats and a significant biodiversity hotspot, faces severe ecological and developmental challenges due to human activities and climate change. This region is crucial for India's monsoon patterns, but deforestation, unsustainable resource extraction, and illegal activities like rock quarrying are destabilizing the ecology. The video highlights disastrous events, such as the 2018 and 2019 floods, spurred by altered rainfall patterns, and devastating landslides. Experts like Madhav Gadgil advocate for protective measures, emphasizing sustainable development and respect for science to ensure future safety and environmental stability. The warning signs and devastation underscore the urgent need to shift to environmentally sustainable practices.

Takeaways

  • 🌿 Western Ghats as a biodiversity hotspot.
  • ⛈ Changing monsoon patterns causing extreme weather.
  • 🌲 Deforestation and illegal activities threaten the ecology.
  • 🌧 Severe floods affected Kerala in 2018 and 2019.
  • ❗ Legal and scientific recommendations ignored.
  • 🏞 Sustainable development is crucial.
  • 🚨 Warning of increasing severe weather events.
  • 🔍 Focus on human impact and climate change.
  • 🌍 Global warming affects the Western Ghats.
  • 🚫 Need to halt illegal quarrying.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    The Western Ghats in Kerala are recognized as a significant biodiversity hotspot, home to numerous unique species like tigers and elephants, and play a critical role in India's monsoon system. However, these forests face increasing pressure from human activities and climatic changes. The area's ecological sensitivity was highlighted by reports like the one led by Madhav Gadgil in 2011. Despite this, human-induced changes are visibly degrading the landscape, profoundly impacting the region's ecological balance and resulting in catastrophic events like the 2018 floods.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Scientists observe changing monsoon patterns, with reductions in total rainfall but increased extreme weather events. These changes amplify environmental risks, as demonstrated in August 2019 when landslides, intensified by continuous heavy rains, caused devastation in various regions, including Kavala Para. The shifting weather patterns, alongside deforestation and improper land use, have led to tragic outcomes, exacerbating the vulnerability of rural and agricultural communities dependent on resources like rubber plantations.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    Illegal mining and quarrying activities in Kerala's Western Ghats further threaten the area's ecological stability. Despite recommendations to halt such activities, including those by Dr. Gadgil, enforcement remains lax, leading to increased environmental degradation. The practice of blasting rocks without adequate regulatory oversight complicates matters, as it loosens the soil, increasing susceptibility to landslides, especially after heavy rains. This poses significant challenges to sustainable land management in the region.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:28

    The ongoing environmental mismanagement in Kerala, compounded by policy failures, threatens the state's safety, food security, and economic wellbeing. While local communities strive to recover from disasters, sustainable development practices remain under-implemented. Scientists urge Kerala to embrace a green development strategy to prevent further disasters and safeguard future generations. The continuous neglect and mismanagement of ecological resources necessitate immediate corrective actions to avoid exacerbating climate-related disasters.

Show more

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is the significance of the Western Ghats?

    The Western Ghats are a major biodiversity hotspot, crucial for the monsoon patterns in India and home to many endangered species.

  • How have human activities affected the Western Ghats?

    Activities such as deforestation, illegal rock quarrying, and unsustainable development have put tremendous pressure on the Western Ghats' ecosystem.

  • What are the consequences of changing monsoon patterns in Kerala?

    The changing monsoon patterns have led to extreme weather events, including devastating floods and landslides, affecting human life, property, and the region's ecology.

  • What incidents highlighted the impact of extreme weather in Kerala?

    Events like the 2018 and 2019 floods and landslides, including the disaster in Kavala Para, showcased the devastating impact of extreme weather due to changing monsoon patterns.

  • What recommendations have been made to address environmental issues in Kerala?

    Recommendations include declaring the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive, halting illegal quarrying, and pursuing sustainable development practices.

  • What role does illegal rock quarrying play in exacerbating environmental issues?

    Illegal rock quarrying contributes to landslides and environmental degradation, posing a significant threat to the stability of the region.

  • How does climate change affect the frequency of extreme weather events in Kerala?

    Global warming increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, contributing to ecological and human disasters.

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  • 00:00:25
    [Music]
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    [Applause]
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    [Music]
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    [Applause]
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    the heavens open up unveiling the
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    Western gods this is one of the world's
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    biggest biodiversity hotspots Kerala is
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    a verdant land full of streams lakes
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    rivers mountains forests rich in
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    biodiversity and home to many unique
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    plants and animals the beautiful Western
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    gods are spread over one lakh twenty
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    nine thousand and thirty seven square
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    kilometres these mountainous forests are
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    home to highly endangered creatures such
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    as tigers nilgiri tahr
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    line deer macaws and elephants
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    [Music]
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    [Applause]
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    [Music]
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    [Music]
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    [Applause]
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    they are also crucial in bringing the
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    bounty of the summer monsoon to India
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    every year these mountains act as a
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    Keely barrier to the rain Laden winds
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    from the southwest and they are bound
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    with rivers the importance of which has
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    been studied for decades scientist
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    madhavgarh Gill who headed the western
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    ghats ecology expert panel in 2011
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    studied this biodiversity hotspot and
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    wanted all of it declared ecologically
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    sensitive
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    westergaard's of course is what well
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    perhaps the best studied biodiversity is
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    it regions of India till notified
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    information is available lot of
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    enthusiastic records like the
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    westergaard's here and there and about
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    its degradation the innocence public
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    awareness has been relatively quite high
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    but the landscape of the western guards
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    has been changing once pristine forests
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    these mountains are today under
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    tremendous pressure from a growing human
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    population deforestation unsustainable
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    extraction of resources and altered
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    rainfall patterns the new monsoon trend
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    has had a devastating effect on the
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    ecology as Kerala witnessed in 2018 and
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    19
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    in 2018 more than 480 people died and 12
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    districts were badly affected in the
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    floods that hit Kerala
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    the extreme rainfall in August 2018 in
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    the catchments upstream of the three
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    major reservoirs leaky cocky and Puryear
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    produced a staggering effect worsening
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    the floods
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    there has been global warming and it is
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    having its impacts all over the world
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    not just on Western Ghats all over the
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    world and one of the scientific results
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    of studies is clearly that the frequency
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    of extreme events such as very intense
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    rainfall that is beginning to god
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    scientists see that the warning signs
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    are all day that the monsoon pattern is
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    definitely changing India for regions
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    like Kayla and Mumbai in the western
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    parts and parts of Central India the
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    total monsoon is decreasing gradually
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    decreasing or a period of time while the
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    frequency and magnitude of extreme rain
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    events are going out so this is going to
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    become a new mo for the future as well
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    where you have more dry periods or
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    droughts in the middle with extreme
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    rainfall events so what you see over
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    mainland India or western ghats region
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    is that will increase our agency
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    temperatures you have the fluctuating
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    monsoon winds carry more moisture from
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    the Arabian Sea and coming it over India
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    and the western ghats within a few hours
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    or a few days time
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    [Applause]
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    [Music]
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    [Music]
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    so for india the total rainfall which we
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    receive during the monsoon season he's
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    showing a gradual decrease you can see
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    with this gray line there's a gradual
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    decrease in total monsoon rainfall which
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    we received during June to September so
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    that degrees is evident during 1950 to
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    2080 well the same time if you look at
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    the number of extreme rain events this
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    red line you can see that there is a
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    steady increase in the number of extreme
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    rainfall events over India on August 8th
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    2019 58 people were buried in their
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    homes when a mountain of mud descended
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    upon them in Kavala para in Malappuram
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    district the skies came crashing down in
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    the dark of the night in Kabul upaya
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    when there was no power people didn't
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    realize the magnitude of the tragedy
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    until the next morning
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    [Music]
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    scenes of loss and trauma unfolded
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    everywhere allaha decided to move away
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    at 7:30 p.m.
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    ass position that saved her life her
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    neighbors and distant relatives were not
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    as lucky people realized that the mud
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    had turned into a tide the previous
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    night swelling with the floodwaters and
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    sweeping down a mountainside on which
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    stood a thin cover of rubber trees there
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    was a tsunami of mud the hills that had
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    stood far away for yours suddenly seemed
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    to be at the doorstep bald and imposing
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    five kilometers away from kabbalah para
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    in pod our people were evacuated just
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    before the landslides
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    this prevented the loss of many lives as
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    the flood waters goes down further they
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    created their own path
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    removing houses trees and other
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    obstructions leaving only a trail of
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    boulders rubble and shattered lives
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    farmers who relied on the rubber trees
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    lost their land the land was now strewn
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    with immovable rocks dirt and debris the
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    precious rubber trees had banished
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    [Music]
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    [Music]
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    away from Kabbalah para input the
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    Malayan V&R district there was another
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    deadly incident a landslide here killed
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    17 people overnight puta mala is 11
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    kilometres from memory and known for its
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    dia states the land in houses was swept
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    away across several kilometers leaving a
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    trail of destruction as news of the
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    destruction echoed across the country
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    with images flashing of rescuers digging
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    through the rubble and mud looking for
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    survivors
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    dr. gargle visited the disaster struck
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    areas his recommendations had earlier
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    been rejected by the authorities I think
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    unfortunately we have a lawless society
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    supported by the states lawlessness
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    this is States lawlessness that the
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    environmental impact assessment reports
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    are written elsewhere for completely
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    fabricated reports are accepted and
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    projects allowed to go on this is
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    government so long as this when we have
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    pointed out to ecologically highly
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    sensitive areas allowing disturbances to
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    those areas again very negligently was
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    in part responsible
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    but it's not just rainfall it is evident
  • 00:12:07
    that mining also triggers landslides in
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    the hills
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    Kerala has to tackle another major
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    challenge rock quarry in the mountains
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    most of which is illegal in his report
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    dr. gut Gil had called for a halt to
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    rock quarry in the gods hello we are
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    certain more about deep voice the number
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    of quarries you know 5927 quarries in
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    kerala now they're reborn but this is
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    what is recorded by the kind of person
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    source Institute out of that less than
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    thousand only is a proven line since one
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    rest of them are illegal so the first
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    sentence on this quarry business what we
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    said illegal Koreans will be should be
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    immediately stopped but nothing has
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    happened here now or so
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    we have the mold system of blasting in
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    the columns which is still in going on
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    you make a big hole in the granite fill
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    it with explosives blast it
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    now when you blast it the waves which is
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    causing its first to long distance and
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    the sound waves if you could look at the
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    sound waves they travel the first in
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    diamund the next fastest medium here's a
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    grenade
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    now if whenever a blast happens it
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    becomes a shaky and at one point of time
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    when there's a heavy rainfall and when
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    the weight of the water is quite high
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    the soil just slides over
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    [Music]
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    Rock Calling poses a particular threat
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    to areas with exclusive rubber
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    plantations because these trees cannot
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    hold the soil firmly heavy rain scoops
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    the soil and takes it downhill
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    [Music]
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    [Applause]
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    but is there any way Kerala can end the
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    lucrative business of rock Warren can
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    the demand for rocks be met from some
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    other source
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    the amount of rocks gravel pieces which
  • 00:14:59
    we have put it now I will say is huge
  • 00:15:02
    there's one doubt it's not do you
  • 00:15:05
    predict any work all day now if you are
  • 00:15:07
    if the government decides to take the
  • 00:15:11
    ground back that way enough for many
  • 00:15:16
    generations the firm of consumption to
  • 00:15:18
    happen again
  • 00:15:23
    mining is being that unduly negligently
  • 00:15:27
    windmills are being set up everywhere
  • 00:15:30
    and the roads to windmills are
  • 00:15:32
    constructed unduly negligently because
  • 00:15:36
    if there are landslides due to those
  • 00:15:38
    roads to the windmills all over you can
  • 00:15:41
    see westergaard's there are landslides
  • 00:15:43
    relating to road construction for the
  • 00:15:45
    windmills on top of the hills the
  • 00:15:48
    windmills get penalised in no way
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    [Music]
  • 00:15:55
    because a man we had above top 8.75 left
  • 00:16:01
    the tips of language the environmental
  • 00:16:10
    destruction and the monsoon disruption
  • 00:16:12
    are a result of failed policies and a
  • 00:16:15
    contempt for science today they pose a
  • 00:16:18
    threat to careless food security
  • 00:16:20
    economic prosperity and people's safety
  • 00:16:26
    in many places after the storms receded
  • 00:16:31
    people began to remove the silt clean up
  • 00:16:34
    and restore normalcy in their lives but
  • 00:16:39
    the question really is are they safe in
  • 00:16:42
    the future we have been talking about
  • 00:16:45
    sustainable development for ages but
  • 00:16:49
    nobody is practicing that properly we
  • 00:16:52
    have to now definitely buy a road this
  • 00:16:55
    is what I said the Kerala Government you
  • 00:16:57
    should pass her a solution anonymous
  • 00:16:59
    resolution in the Assembly saying that
  • 00:17:02
    care law will have only sustainable
  • 00:17:04
    development program here of town
  • 00:17:23
    scientists warn that if unlawful
  • 00:17:25
    practices continue unabated lives and
  • 00:17:28
    livelihoods cannot be saved and so today
  • 00:17:48
    Kerala is at a crossroads it has to make
  • 00:17:52
    a choice it must shift to a green
  • 00:17:56
    development path or risk even more
  • 00:17:58
    deadly disasters like floods and
  • 00:18:01
    mudslides
  • 00:18:04
    [Music]
  • 00:18:12
    I'm gonna poker can't disappoint you
  • 00:18:14
    good nerve and somebody took a Menasha
  • 00:18:17
    Harkin sumbitches a murder carrier can't
  • 00:18:21
    disappoint you eaten number where the
  • 00:18:25
    neighbor nobody will come the hell -
  • 00:18:28
    booty number or karma I was having
  • 00:18:30
    rather a problem thank you for America
  • 00:18:40
    voters go to the pattern like a poorer
  • 00:18:41
    somewhat America Wendy he care nothing
  • 00:18:45
    but doesn't a little Kern and early care
  • 00:18:47
    of my demonic are come who are you Rama
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    will come idea of pure shear particle
  • 00:18:51
    kodo-san Markham well I'm Martha I'm
  • 00:18:53
    around Rocky sohe my trap course you're
  • 00:18:56
    a little program which a decayed in the
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    Cunha Nalanda mobile hour read-a-thon is
  • 00:19:00
    okay for on the move in
  • 00:19:03
    muhahahaha money change another question
  • 00:19:06
    a cathode is a in the Mahabharata
  • 00:19:08
    it is a modern galerkin's a silver
  • 00:19:11
    general of Sigma 11 we will look at
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    another book
  • 00:19:15
    Mahaprabhu ima remove our day in the one
  • 00:19:17
    of the Fenian almost Romana I didn't
  • 00:19:20
    know killa now the Essure energy trade
  • 00:19:23
    with him but it is even sure no mana in
  • 00:19:25
    the second alarm
  • 00:19:28
    [Music]
  • 00:19:44
    [Music]
  • 00:20:25
    you
Tags
  • Western Ghats
  • Kerala
  • Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • Floods
  • Landslides
  • Deforestation
  • Monsoon
  • Sustainable Development
  • Illegal Quarrying