Urging a paradigm shift in development planning, the panel called for a comprehensive land use policy tailored to Kerala’s unique ecological and social landscape to prevent future disasters.
Published Feb 21, 2025 | 5:09 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 21, 2025 | 5:09 PM
The 2024 Wayanad landslides were one of the deadliest disasters in Kerala's history. (X)
Synopsis: The 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Environment said unchecked mining, construction activities, and ecological mismanagement have been destabilising the state’s fragile terrain. It stressed the urgent need for Kerala to abandon flawed development models that disrupt its geological balance and instead formulate a land-use policy that aligns with ecological and social sustainability.
Unplanned land use, rampant quarrying, and flawed development policies are accelerating environmental disasters in Kerala, warned the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Environment in its latest report.
The committee, chaired by CK Vijayan MLA, conducted an independent study on the devastating landslides that struck Meppadi in Wayanad and Vilangad in Kozhikode on 30 July 2024.
The report, submitted on 12 February, underscored how unchecked mining, construction activities, and ecological mismanagement have been destabilising the state’s fragile terrain.
Urging a paradigm shift in development planning, the panel called for a comprehensive land use policy tailored to Kerala’s unique ecological and social landscape to prevent future disasters.
The committee noted that landslides have emerged as Kerala’s most frequent and destructive natural disaster, leaving a devastating impact on society, the environment, and livelihoods. Every year, mountains crumble at an alarming rate, reshaping landscapes and threatening human settlements, it said.
The committee cited a report of the Ministry of Earth Sciences which said Kerala accounted for more than 2,000 of the 3,000 reported landslide incidents across the country between 2015 and 2022.
This alarming statistic underscores the state’s growing vulnerability.
Currently, 460 areas across Kerala are classified as landslide-prone, with studies identifying 32 locations facing an extreme landslide risk of more than 30 percent and 76 locations with a risk exceeding 20 percent.
The Landslide Atlas released by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) further highlights the scale of the crisis, revealing that 4,20,000 square kilometres of India are at risk, including 90,000 square kilometres in the Western Ghats region spanning Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
Except for Alappuzha, all districts in Kerala are mapped under landslide hazard zones by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
The highest-risk areas are concentrated in Idukki, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Pathanamthitta. Notably, 70 percent of all landslide disasters in Kerala have occurred in regions previously identified as high-risk in official hazard maps.
Among Kerala’s districts, Wayanad stands out as one of the most vulnerable to climate-induced disasters. The district’s unique geography, elevation, and rapid land-use changes have altered its microclimate, making it highly susceptible to extreme rainfall events.
The State Climate Change Report has flagged Wayanad as a high-risk zone, urging immediate precautionary measures.
A disturbing shift in rainfall patterns — from continuous moderate rainfall to short bursts of extremely heavy rain — has made Wayanad’s steep and fragile terrain more prone to landslides.
Since 2018, the district has witnessed multiple large-scale landslides, each exposing the delicate balance between nature and human interference.
The committee said that while climate change plays a significant role, rampant deforestation, unscientific construction, and land conversion have severely weakened the region’s natural defences. The destruction is not just a natural consequence; it is also a man-made crisis, it said.
A large section of Wayanad’s population resides along mountain slopes, high hills, and riverbanks, increasing the scale of human casualties and property loss during disasters.
According to the report, unregulated development — such as road and house construction obstructing natural watercourses, the filling of streams, and excessive quarrying — has further exacerbated the risks.
Landslides are frequently reported in areas where natural slopes, vegetation, and drainage patterns have been significantly altered.
The committee listed out key triggers of Landslides in Wayanad,
The Department of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation provided the Committee with the report that the Vilangad region, typically a low-lying area with elevations of 400 meters or more, has been severely impacted by unchecked human interventions.
According to the report, rampant construction and encroachments blocking natural water channels, steep mountain slopes destabilized by unscientific house construction, poorly planned roads lacking proper drainage, flawed land-use policies, and relentless granite mining have all played a major role in triggering this disaster.
After examining the aforementioned incidents, the committee concluded that a combination of human activities and natural factors has significantly increased the risk of landslides in Kerala, particularly in the Western Ghats.
While heavy rains act as a trigger, unscientific land-use practices, deforestation, and large-scale construction activities have severely weakened the stability of hillsides.
The removal of deep-rooted trees, which naturally bind the soil and regulate moisture, has made way for shallow-rooted plantations like rubber, further destabilising slopes. Encroachments, road construction, and the blocking of natural water drainage channels have altered the landscape, disrupting the natural course of rivers and increasing soil fragility.
The soil in the region, once firm, has been transformed by relentless human intervention, including agriculture and quarrying, making it more susceptible to landslides.
The committee highlighted that these disasters are not just a consequence of extreme weather but are aggravated by poor planning, unsustainable development, and environmental neglect.
It stressed the urgent need for Kerala to abandon flawed development models that disrupt its geological balance and instead formulate a land-use policy that aligns with ecological and social sustainability.
At the same time, the departments concerned informed the committee that efforts are underway to develop an AI-driven landslide prediction system in Wayanad in collaboration with NIT Surat, with financial assistance from the Department of Science and Technology of the Union government.
The system integrates three types of sensors — power pressure, accelerometer, and soil moisture — along with a real-time mechanism for receiving rainfall warnings.
It has also been intimated that recognising the vulnerability of hilly regions, a special construction code has been formulated, emphasising the need for slope-based construction methods and the use of lightweight materials to minimize risks.
However, a critical challenge that remains is the absence of a robust Early Warning Dissemination System or Automatic Weather Stations of the Indian Meteorological Department in disaster-prone zones, limiting the effectiveness of issuing timely warnings, the committee said.
Additionally, landslide-affected areas, part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, house rare species of plants and wildlife.
The Committee has recommended a detailed study under the supervision of the Biodiversity Board to assess the impact of landslides on the region’s fragile ecosystem and compile a comprehensive report.
“The warning is clear: If the state fails to course-correct, landslides will continue to claim lives, displace communities, and erode Kerala’s already fragile ecological balance. The time for reactive measures is over — what Kerala needs now is a proactive and long-term vision that harmonises development with nature’s resilience.”
The official further added, “The findings of the Assembly Committee on Environment paint a stark picture of Kerala’s growing vulnerability to landslides — an escalating crisis fueled by both natural forces and reckless human intervention. While climate change-induced extreme rainfall is a critical factor, unplanned development, deforestation, and flawed land-use policies have pushed the state’s ecologically fragile regions to the brink of disaster.”
The report underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift in Kerala’s approach to development.
A well-defined, ecologically sound land-use policy — one that prioritises environmental sustainability over short-term economic gains — is imperative to prevent further catastrophes.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
