Content
- Tamil Nadu Floods and Mullaperiyar Dam: Early Onset of Northeast Monsoon and Compound Flood Risks
- Is Punjab’s Stubble Burning Problem Really Declining?
- Why Cloud Seeding is Not a Solution to Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis
- Sanctuary’ Status for Forests of Saranda: Why This Matters, Case Before SC
- Government to Issue Commemorative Coin to Mark 200th Anniversary of Rani Channamma’s Victory at Kittur
How do monsoons affect Tamil Nadu?
Why in News
- Tamil Nadu is experiencing early and heavy northeast monsoon rains, continuing a trend of above-average rainfall for the second consecutive year.
- Mullaperiyar Dam releases are exacerbating flood risks in Tamil Nadu, affecting farmland, urban areas, and infrastructure.
- Policymakers are questioning the conventional notion that “excess rainfall is good” in light of climate change and concentrated rainfall events.
Relevance:
- GS-1: Geography – Monsoon patterns, rainfall variability, river systems (Periyar, Vaigai), flood-prone regions.
- GS-2: Governance – Disaster management, inter-state water sharing (Tamil Nadu-Kerala coordination), reservoir/dam operation policies.
- GS-3: Environment & Climate Change – Impact of climate change on rainfall intensity, urban flooding, soil erosion, and disaster preparedness.
Early Onset of Northeast Monsoon
- Arrived at least four days earlier for the second consecutive year.
- Forecasts suggest rainfall exceeding long-period average by significant margins, similar to 2024 (33% higher).
- Short, intense bursts of rain are increasingly common due to climate change, causing localized flooding.
Urban Impacts
- Concrete and asphalt surfaces prevent infiltration, causing rapid runoff.
- Drainage systems overwhelmed, leading to:
- Flash floods
- Waterlogging of low-lying areas
- Property damage
- Disrupted transportation
- Overflows from sewage systems release untreated wastewater, creating health hazards.
- Past events (e.g., Cyclone Michaung, 2023) show that power outages occur due to risk management during floods.
Agricultural Impacts
- Waterlogged soil: Suffocates plant roots and young crops.
- Topsoil erosion: Loss of fertility and nutrients.
- Delayed sowing and crop losses reduce long-term agricultural productivity.
Role of Mullaperiyar Dam
- Located in Kerala (Idukki district), operated by Tamil Nadu for irrigation.
- Heavy rainfall in Kerala catchment fills reservoir rapidly.
- Tamil Nadu must open all 13 shutters to manage water levels, releasing thousands of cusecs.
- Resulting flows:
- Periyar River (Kerala): Flooding low-lying areas, creating inter-State challenges.
- Vaigai Dam (Tamil Nadu): Compound flood risk when combined with local monsoon rains.
Compound Flood Risk
- Tamil Nadu faces simultaneous inflow from Kerala and its own rainfall, turning excess water into immediate flood risk.
- Farmland and residential areas, particularly in Theni district, are already submerged.
- Risk to infrastructure, roads, and critical services increases.
Environmental & Health Risks
- Standing water promotes vector-borne diseases (malaria, dengue).
- Water contamination from sewage overflows affects human and animal health.
- Soil erosion and sedimentation harm ecosystems and reduce soil fertility.
Climate Change Factor
- Increasing frequency of intense, short-duration rainfall events complicates traditional water management strategies.
- Challenges the notion that “excess rainfall is beneficial”, as concentrated rain overwhelms natural and man-made systems.
Policy and Planning Implications
- States need to rethink reservoir management considering upstream rainfall and inter-State coordination.
- Urban and agricultural planning must adapt to high-intensity rainfall and flood mitigation measures.
- Emphasis on real-time monitoring, early warning systems, and disaster preparedness.
Governance & Inter-State Coordination
- Tamil Nadu-Kerala coordination critical for dam releases and flood risk mitigation.
- Mismanagement or delayed communication can amplify flood impact, creating socio-economic and political tensions.
Way Forward
- Integrate climate-resilient infrastructure in urban and rural planning.
- Adopt holistic water management: reservoir operation, catchment area treatment, and floodplain zoning.
- Invest in early warning systems and community awareness for flood preparedness and response.
Is Punjab’s stubble burning problem really declining?
Why in News
- Paddy harvesting in Punjab has picked up pace, bringing renewed attention to stubble burning, a key contributor to air pollution in North India, including Delhi.
- 2024 saw fewer fire incidents due to flooded farmland, but total burnt area remains high, highlighting persistent challenges in crop residue management.
- Recent studies and satellite data reveal discrepancies in reporting, prompting calls for more accurate monitoring and integrated policy interventions.
Relevance:
- GS-1: Geography – Agricultural practices, seasonal crop cycles, regional climate impacts.
- GS-2: Governance – Policy interventions, state and central coordination, crop residue management schemes, enforcement measures.
- GS-3: Environment – Air pollution (PM2.5, PM10), greenhouse gas emissions, public health impacts, satellite monitoring of fires.
Context of Stubble Burning
- Post-paddy harvest, farmers burn crop residue (stubble) to prepare fields for wheat sowing within a short window (~3 weeks).
- Burning is considered quick and cost-effective, especially when mechanized alternatives are unavailable.
- Seasonal stubble burning contributes to air pollution spikes in post-monsoon and winter months.
Recent Trends
- Punjab government data (2024): 10,909 farm fires, down 70% from 36,663 in 2023.
- Despite fewer fire counts, area under burning: 19.17 lakh hectares (2024) vs 19.14 lakh hectares (2023).
- Indicates that smaller, low-intensity, or partial burns are harder to detect but still contribute to pollution.
Data Discrepancies
- Satellite limitations: MODIS and VIIRS pass a few times daily, missing late-afternoon/evening burns.
- Cloud cover, haze, fragmented landholdings, and deliberate concealment reduce detection accuracy.
- Optical sensors (e.g., Sentinel-2) can detect post-fire discoloration and burn scars, giving more precise burnt-area estimates.
Scientific Insights
- Not all burnt area implies high emissions; low-intensity, short-duration fires release less particulate matter.
- Accurate emissions assessment requires fire intensity, fuel load, and duration, not burnt area alone.
Floods & Weather Impacts
- 2024 floods in Punjab reduced stubble burning but caused waterlogging and crop damage, affecting sowing schedules.
- Early northeast monsoon and excessive rains exacerbate agriculture, urban infrastructure, and health risks.
Environmental & Health Impacts
- Stubble burning emits particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gases.
- Major contributor to Delhi’s winter smog, respiratory diseases, and regional air pollution crises.
- Compound effect with vehicular and industrial emissions worsens public health burden.
Policy Measures
- Subsidized crop residue management machinery provided to farmers.
- Stricter enforcement and awareness campaigns to reduce burning.
- Crop diversification and alternative residue utilization promoted (bioenergy, compost, mulching).
Technological Solutions
- Integrated satellite monitoring: thermal + optical imagery for better burnt-area assessment.
- Ground verification to validate satellite data and assess emissions per fire intensity.
Socio-Economic Considerations
- Small landholdings and time pressure between crops make burning attractive.
- Any policy must balance farmers’ livelihoods, cost of machinery, and environmental targets.
Way Forward
- Evidence-based approach: quantify emissions, not just burnt area.
- Promote mechanized residue management, incentives for biofuel use, and crop rotation practices.
- Coordinate state and central policies, focusing on both short-term mitigation and long-term structural solutions to reduce air pollution sustainably.
Why cloud seeding is not a solution to Delhi’s air pollution crisis
Why in News
- Delhi government is exploring cloud seeding as a solution to air pollution during post-monsoon and winter months.
- Experts argue it is scientifically weak, ethically questionable, and a temporary fix, diverting attention from structural solutions.
- Public and scientific debate has intensified following media reports and policy announcements.
Relevance:
- GS-3: Environment – Air pollution management, mitigation strategies, atmospheric science (Western Disturbances, moisture patterns).
- GS-2: Governance – Policy critique, ethical implications, accountability in technological interventions.
- GS-3: Science & Technology – Cloud seeding mechanisms, limitations, environmental risks, and feasibility.
Seasonal Air Pollution in Delhi & North India
- Air quality is poor year-round, but spikes post-monsoon and in winter.
- Meteorological causes:
- Dry continental air masses from the northwest dominate after monsoon withdrawal.
- Weak winds and stagnant air trap pollutants.
- Cooler, stable high-pressure systems suppress cloud formation.
- Result: Hazy skies are trapped pollution, not clouds capable of producing rain.
Natural Rainfall Limitations
- Rain in winter occurs via Western Disturbances (Mediterranean-origin systems) or interaction with moisture from seas.
- Such events are sporadic, short-lived, and unpredictable, insufficient to consistently reduce pollution.
Cloud Seeding Basics
- Mechanism: Introduces compounds like silver iodide or sodium chloride into existing clouds to trigger condensation and ice formation.
- Requirement: Cannot generate clouds from thin air; depends on natural cloud presence.
- Evidence: Global studies show weak and contested results on effectiveness.
Limitations in Air Pollution Context
- Even if rainfall occurs, temporary reduction in particulate matter is short-lived (1–2 days).
- Does not address root causes: emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, construction, waste burning, and stubble burning.
Environmental Risks
- Chemical accumulation: Silver iodide can persist in soils and water bodies over repeated use.
- Unknown long-term effects: Potential impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, and human health remain poorly understood.
Ethical & Governance Concerns
- Accountability questions if cloud seeding coincides with:
- Flooding
- Crop or infrastructure damage
- Loss of life
- Public perception may misattribute disasters to cloud seeding, eroding trust in science and governance.
Scientific Critique
- Cloud seeding is a “snake–oil” solution that creates spectacular but ineffective interventions.
- Diverts resources and attention from long-term, evidence-based measures.
- Scientific credibility is at risk when institutions endorse unproven fixes.
Root Causes of Air Pollution
- Anthropogenic sources:
- Vehicle emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, power plants, municipal waste burning.
- Seasonal agricultural stubble burning.
- Meteorology: Stable air, low moisture, and stagnant winds exacerbate pollution.
Real Solutions
- Structural interventions include:
- Cleaner transport: EVs, improved public transport
- Sustainable energy: Shift from coal-based power
- Waste management: Reduce open burning
- Urban planning: Reduce dust, increase green cover
- Agricultural measures: Stubble management, alternative crop residue use
Key Takeaways
- Cloud seeding: temporary, risky, ethically ambiguous, and scientifically weak.
- True mitigation requires systemic, evidence-based policies addressing sources of pollution rather than relying on flashy, ineffective interventions.
- Emphasis: patient, sustained action over spectacle;
‘Sanctuary’ status for forests of Saranda: why this matters, case before SC
Why in News
- The Supreme Court/NGT is hearing a case on declaring Saranda forests in Jharkhand as a wildlife sanctuary.
- The issue arose because the Jharkhand government has not implemented earlier NGT orders despite the forest being notified as a game sanctuary in 1968.
- Petitioners argue the region requires legal protection to prevent biodiversity loss and habitat degradation.
Relevance:
- GS-2: Governance – Implementation of NGT orders, inter-agency coordination, legal enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act.
- GS-3: Environment – Biodiversity conservation, forest management, human-wildlife conflict, mining vs ecological protection.
Background
- Location: West Singhbhum, Jharkhand; 85 sq km notified area, part of the “Seven Hundred Hills”.
- Previous Notifications:
- 1968: Declared a game sanctuary.
- 2002: NGT ordered the government to declare it a wildlife sanctuary under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- Current Issue: Jharkhand government claims the forest department was not officially notified, preventing formal sanctuary status.
- Government Concern: Revenue from mining (~23% of India’s iron ore) funds regional development and tribal welfare (~₹140 crores reported by B S Bhatt Commission).
Ecological Significance
- Saranda forests contain India’s finest Sal forests.
- Rich biodiversity:
- Elephants, four-horned antelopes, tigers (historically)
- Other flora and fauna threatened due to mining, deforestation, and human activity.
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII) reports: Anthropogenic pressures necessitate sanctuary status to protect wildlife and biodiversity.
- Contributes ~23% of India’s iron ore production, essential for steel, infrastructure, and industrial growth.
Legal/Policy Context
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Provides for creation of sanctuaries and protection of flora and fauna.
- NGT orders: Directed immediate notification as a wildlife sanctuary to curb habitat destruction.
- Government Draft (Oct 17, 2025): Proposed immediate action for sanctuary notification, signaling compliance.
- Conflict: Development vs. conservation – revenue generation vs. ecological sustainability.
Significance
- Environmental: Protects biodiversity, prevents habitat fragmentation, and sustains Sal forest ecosystem.
- Socio-economic: Balances tribal welfare and revenue from natural resources with ecological conservation.
- Legal/Policy: Test case for implementation of NGT orders and enforcement of Wildlife Protection Act.
- National Importance: Preserving forests vital for climate resilience and ecological balance in mineral-rich regions.
Govt to issue commemorative coin to mark 200th anniversary of Rani Channamma’s victory at Kittur
Why in News
- The Government of India will issue a ₹200 commemorative coin to mark 200 years of Rani Channamma’s victory at Kittur (1824–2024).
- Purpose: Honouring one of the earliest armed resistances against the British East India Company, predating the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
- Significance: Symbolizes recognition of regional heroes and promotion of historical consciousness.
- Legal Status: Legal tender, but not for general circulation (commemorative in nature)
Relevance:
- GS-1: History – Early resistance against British East India Company, pre-1857 revolts, regional freedom movements, role of women in history.
Historical Background
- Birth & Early Life: Born on 23 October 1778, in Kakati village, Karnataka.
- Marriage & Ascendancy: Married Raja Mallasarja of Kittur; became queen after his death.
- Succession Conflict: Adopted Shivalingappa as heir after her son’s death; British East India Company refused to recognize him.
- Kittur Rebellion:
- First Battle (1824): Channamma successfully resisted the British, showcasing strategic acumen and valour.
- Second Attack (1824–1829): British launched a renewed assault; she was captured and imprisoned, dying in February 1829.
- Legacy: Early freedom fighter; symbol of resistance against colonial annexation policies.
Significance
- Historical: Highlights pre-1857 anti-colonial resistance, emphasizing regional contributions to India’s freedom struggle.
- Cultural: Promotes women’s leadership in history and inspires gender-inclusive narratives in freedom movements.
- Economic & Numismatic:
- Commemorative coins generate collector interest, contributing to numismatic awareness.
- Reflects India’s policy of honoring historical figures through currency.
- National Identity: Reinforces cultural memory and pride; aligns with Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav initiatives.
