Q: How did the recent disasters in the Western Ghats, such as landslides, relate to quarrying activities?
• The recent disasters in the Western Ghats, particularly the devastating landslides, have been closely linked to extensive quarrying activities in the region. Scientific research, including case studies by the River Research Centre, highlights that the removal of hard rock through quarrying destabilizes the slope structures, significantly increasing the susceptibility to landslides, especially during heavy monsoon rains.
Q: What specific instances illustrate the link between quarrying and landslides?
• Notable instances include the 2018 Kerala floods and subsequent landslides, where extensive quarrying in the Chalakudy basin was identified as a key contributing factor to the magnitude of the disaster. The removal of vegetation and disruption of the natural drainage patterns by quarrying operations exacerbated the soil’s instability, leading to severe landslides.
Q: What are the ecological impacts of quarrying in regions like the Western Ghats?
• Quarrying in ecologically sensitive areas like the Western Ghats leads to biodiversity loss, habitat destruction, alteration of hydrological pathways, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. The stripping away of topsoil and vegetation for quarrying disrupts local ecosystems and depletes the region’s natural resilience against environmental disturbances.
Q: What measures have been suggested or implemented to mitigate the impact of quarrying on such disasters?
• To mitigate the impact, environmental guidelines and regulations have been recommended to ensure sustainable quarrying practices. These include enforcing buffer zones, rehabilitation of quarried areas, strict environmental impact assessments, and reducing the scale and intensity of quarrying operations to preserve ecological balance.
Q: How have local governments and communities responded to the threat of quarrying-induced landslides?
• Local governments have sometimes placed restrictions on quarrying, especially following major disasters that highlight the risks involved. Community awareness and activism have also increased, leading to more rigorous demands for regulatory oversight and environmental compliance from quarrying operations.
Q: What future actions are necessary to prevent similar disasters in vulnerable regions like the Western Ghats?
• Future actions should focus on enforcing stricter environmental regulations, enhancing land use planning to avoid quarrying in sensitive areas, investing in scientific research to understand the long-term impacts of quarrying, and fostering community engagement in decision-making processes. Additionally, creating comprehensive disaster management plans that consider the ecological impacts of industrial activities like quarrying is crucial.
Quarrying
Quarrying is the process of extracting stone, minerals, or other materials from the earth through open-pit mining or burrowing. This activity is primarily conducted in quarries, which are large pits excavated in the ground. The materials extracted through quarrying are used for a variety of purposes, including construction (such as building stones and aggregates for concrete), manufacturing (like lime for cement), and road building. Quarrying activities involve several processes including blasting, digging, or cutting into the earth's surface to access the desired materials, which are then processed, refined, and transported for various uses. This practice can significantly alter landscapes and ecosystems, leading to potential environmental impacts.
These FAQs aim to provide a deeper understanding of how quarrying activities have contributed to recent disasters in the Western Ghats and outline steps for mitigating future risks and protecting these ecologically vital areas.
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