Kerala fights drought with recharged wells

In October, Kerala's Government declared the state as drought affected. For a state that receives the first onslaught of the southwest monsoon, the year 2016 has been bad. While the southwest monsson was deficient by 34%, the northeast was deficient by 62%. The state has only received 1,532.5 mm of rain till December 14, whereas the average annual rainfall is 2,508 mm, which could man a deficit of 39% during 2016. The State Government has decided to upscale the Mazhapolima (rain bounty) scheme of well recharge found successful in Thrissur district to all parts of the state. MORE ...

Jos Raphael of Mazhapolima (right) talks to the officials of a public health centre. 

P.P. George and Theresa George near their well with recharge system in Arimbur village.

Cyclone Vardah tests Chennai's climate resilience

The high intensity Chennai floods of November-December 2015 and the very severe Cyclone Vardah of 12 December 2016 seems to be strengthening the prognosis made in the Tamil Nadu State Action Plan on Climate Change that the state's coast could face climate-related events of increasing intensity. These events tested the Chennai's climate resilience and preparedness, and found them to be inadequate. MORE ...

Falling trees have left a trail of damage in Chennai.

W(h)ither Kerala's mangroves

With mangroves in Kerala reducing to 25 sq.km from 700 sq.km in 1957, the efforts by a group of citizens to get remaining patches surveyed and government lands identified holds promise. More than half of the state’s mangrove patches stand on privately owned lands, and thereby conservation is difficult. While the private owners do not have an immediate economic benefit from conservation, the government finds it difficult to deal with private lands. However, even after the citizen’s group has helped government identify mangroves on their lands, the state machinery has not moved towards conservation. MORE … 

The mangrove-encrusted island in the Chettuva river.

The GM jinx

The decision on GM mustard can either be technical or democratic. It should not mix the two. MORE ...

Environment and business

Environment and business are strange bedfellows. They should neither be too close or too far away. MORE ...

Walls can't keep out the sea in Kerala

More than half of Kerala's coastline is built with sea walls. However, this does not necessarily protect the state from storm surges and climate change. MORE ... 

The sea wall in Chettuva in central Kerala.

Lifting houses to escape Chennai floods

As the dark clouds of the northeast monsoon gathers over Chennai, the fears of 2015 floods return. Many city residents are rushing against time to get their buildings lifted to prevent flood waters from entering. It is an innovative climate adaptation. MORE ...

An outside view of a building being lifted in Chennai.

The building from inside.