Much has been said about the need to conserve our forests (see: Trees are vital). The campaign to keep the earth green seems to be getting the message across to millions of people. But there is another vital area of ecology that is, unfortunately, not receiving the attention that it deserves.
I am talking about the hills. All over India
What is the damage if the hills are flattened? Water covers about 70% of the Earth. I saw an estimate that water level would rise by more than 8000 feet (about 2500m) if the earth surface were evened out. That means there would not be any land-sea ratio. The planet would be a mass covered by water. That of course is an unlikely eventuality.
But there are several other adverse impacts of leveling hills. The surface area of the earth decreases when a hill is flattened. The trees and plants (some of them medicinal) and life forms that thrived there disappear. I think all the major rivers of the world originate from and are sustained by the mountains. The hills attract rains. They provide water to more than half the world’s population. Terrains like laterite formations retain water. If we do not protect hills, the result would be acute water problems.
There could be an argument that habitats are among the basic requirements of humanity and that construction activities provide employment to many people. True. But can’t we build without flattening the hills? Contour architecture, I think, is the answer. Two examples of this I can immediately recall are the residential area of the HMT complex near Cochin , and the Kovalam Resort near Trivandrum
Certainly, our architects are capable of coming out with eco-friendly designs.
Ends.
Also see: Komana Kadu.
Cross posted to:
Song og the waves - Parayil A. Tharakan BlogArticles By Abraham Tharakan
4 comments:
What I think Kerala need in terms of environment and ecology, a massive educational program bigger than the literacy program and the family planning, to change the way people look and treat waste. Starting from the government level all people are guilty in destroying the land in Kerala by poisoning it. Kerala has a very dense population and most big cities in Kerala are over crowded. This should not be an excuse for piling litter very were. Some people blame the rapid growth in consumer demands and consumption to this problem. Let us take conditions in Singapore and Hong Kong. Both these countries are highly populated based on the ratio of total area to the population. Both counties are very heavily industrialized and far advanced in consumer trade and movement of merchandise. Why we don't find garbage spilled on the sides of streets and open sewers running in the middle of a populated city. Population in both countries are Asians not very different from Indians. Mater of fact, a large number of Singaporeans are same as south Indians. Why these countries succeeded in keeping their environment clean, because leaders and governments in these countries had a better vision in to the future. They created a good system for the limited area they got. People are educated and in some cases they are punished for littering publicly. Why can't we learn from these nations at least cleanliness.
In India people worship dirt and polluted water. Take the case of river Ganges, India's most important fresh water resource. By the name of religious believes, people have no shame in polluting this body of water, with half burned human bodies and all other kinds of waste created by religious acts. People drink water from this river as holy water. Is any politician in India, got the courage to talk about cleaning the river Ganges?
In Kerala, every year we face at least one or two wide spread disease spread by air, water or insects. Why this is happening, no body is bringing these problems from out side. We are incubating these diseases in our own back yards. We have created all over the state so many perfect atmosphere for insects to thrive and they can distribute all kinds of sickness in democratic fashion.
thanks John Kunthara
Thanks for pointing out that the hills are in danger and are just as valuable as forests and mountains. So many mountain tops have been leveled because of mining. It's not just an aesthetic issue. As you mention, crucial habitats are being destroyed.
Dagny
www.onnotextiles.com
bamboo clothing
Nice food for thought. You did strike a chord, but I guess not many are listening or even hearing for that matter. You're so right about the destroying hills leads to loss of many medicinal plants. Wish people think about it and take actions soon.
Just a few days ago I was discussing with a friend that extensive use of land for the construction of homes for both locals and expats has further drained and exploited the environment. I live in Barbados, a limestone island in the Caribbean where many quarries have sprung up, mining the precious limestone for the construction of roads, finishes for houses and mansions. Many of our ridges have been lost forever. Our sand dunes on our east coast are fast disappearing. These quarries have scarred the landscape and have left huge useless caverns scattered around my small island. There is much talk about an environmental approach to the decision making process by our leaders, however they do not seem to see the destruction that is occurring right before their eyes. Hills and ridges protect us from storms and floods. Trees protect us from the heat, they feed us and are important for rainfall. Can't our leaders connect the dots? Or do we have to wait until the well runs dry?
Post a Comment