Interview | Madhav Gadgil: “Paddy farming is no reason for landslides in western ghats”

The recent landslide incident in Irshalwadi village in Raigad district, in which 27 people were killed and 57 are still missing, has highlighted the need to protect the Western Ghats, a crucial ecological area and one of the four biodiversity hotspots in the country. Madhav Gadgil, a senior ecologist who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) in 2010 (it was popularly known as the Gadgil Commission) has been batting for the protection and conservation of the Ghats spread over six states. Q: There has been a rise in landslide incidents in the western ghats. What are your observations about these landslides? Answer: The researchers from the Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM) who work extensively on Sahyadri mountain ranges have observed that in the last 10 years, landslide incidents have increased in western ghats in Maharashtra by 100% including both small and large-scale landslides. The study highlighted various causes including human intervention. These rising landslide incidents are posing a huge challenge for the western ghats. Q: Are there any other significant reasons? Answer: So far, human intervention like encroachments, mining activities, and setting up big infrastructure projects like the construction of roads, hotels, and resorts are the major affecting reasons that have led to such incidents in the western ghats. However, deforestation is also said to be a cause for such activities but I am unable to comment on that as in recent times my visits are very fewer to these areas. Q: Paddy farming or other agriculture activities is also said to be a cause of such landslide incidents, is it true? Answer: No. There have been human settlements in the Sahyadri mountains for hundreds of years. Historically also they have engaged in paddy farming in these areas for years and such incidents were witnessed previously. I am personally interested in history and have read many Maratha-era historical records. Q: So what do the history records suggest? Answer: I have read some records, also known as bakhar, along with various British gazettes, and modern historical accounts but I never came across any such relation between paddy farming and landslide even in those history pages. The paddy practices have been done for thousands of years, and there is no record of such incidents. What recently happened is due to human intervention and it is increasing on a large scale. So, it's totally wrong to say that paddy farming is a reason for landslides in western ghats. Q: The Gadgil committee report says, mining and infrastructure projects are adversely impacting the western ghats, however considering the villages Irshalwadi, and Taliye are not close to any such project. How did these villages get impacted? Answer: Well, I haven't visited these villages and therefore can't say the exact geological causes for the same. However, the geological researchers found out that the villages don't need to be in the vicinity of such projects. The cracks can be developed in one place during a blast done at times of mining or for the infrastructure project and that can expand over the period. It ultimately affects the other areas as a major part gets hollowed out. Q: Recently, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the state assembly that the state government was waiting for the Centre’s response to the Gadgil committee’s report. Would you like to comment on that? Answer: The state has been waiting for the last 10 years, and I believe that the wait to protect the western ghats might be longer. It was the state government in 2011 that tried to surpass the report and also misguided the people by posting misinformation on their official websites. This wait will only lead to further destruction on the western ghats in Maharashtra.

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