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Kerala received heavy monsoon rainfall on the mid evening of August 8 resulting in dams filling to capacity; in the first 24 hours of rainfall the state received 310 mm (12 in) of rain.
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Almost all dams have been opened since the water level has risen close to overflow level due to heavy rainfall, flooding local low-lying areas.
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For the first time in the state’s history, 35 of its 42 dams have been opened.
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Most of the regions affected by this monsoon were classified as ecologically-sensitive zones (ESZs) by the the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, the Gadgil Committee.
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Most of the recommendations and directions by the commitee was either neglected or rejected.
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Chairman of the committee Madhav Gadgil accused the state government and its irresponsible environmental policy for the recent landslides and floods. He called it a man-made calamity.
Impact:
The 2018 floods and landslides in Kerala wreaked havoc on property, infrastructure, and lives and livelihoods of people in state. 16% of State’s population about 5.4 Million people were affected while 1.4 million were displaced from their homes, especially poor and vulnerable segments of population.
Resilient Kerala Program:
This New Program is part of Central government’s support to Kerala’s ‘Rebuild Kerala Development Programme’ which aimed at building a Green and Resilient Kerala.
Program will support Kerala with:
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Improved River Basin planning, Water Infrastructure Operations Management, Water supply and Sanitation services.
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Resilient and sustainable agriculture as well as enhanced agriculture risk insurance.
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Improved resilience of core road network
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Unified and more updated land records in high risk areas
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Risk-based urban planning and strengthened expenditure planning by urban local bodies (ULBs)
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Strengthened fiscal and public financial management capacity of state