Sunstroke, usually heard in northern India and that too at the peak of summer, is now haunting the people, particularly of northern Kerala like Palakkad, Kannur and others- RK Kutty
For last one week or so, the Asianet channel continues this news story. It all started when an unusual phenomenon of water shortage found in many places in Kerala, even before the summer set in. Remember, Kerala had a full monsoon last season and all its dams and water storage facilities were over-flowing. Still, the sudden shortage of water was something quite unusual. Of late, what being noticed is that the mercury shoot up and Palakkad district is now at 42 C which is the highest ever in this time before. Sunstroke, usually heard in northern India, and that too at the peak of summer, is now haunting the people, particularly of northern Kerala like Palakkad, Kannur and others. Youngsters are depicting their burned up back in black and white through television cameras which is real and the Govt of Kerala has revised the working hours of those engaged in manual works under various government schemes. From 12 am till 3 pm people are told not to do any works in the open, as the possibility of sunstroke would be more severe in coming days. Also, an unusual phenomenon of excess temperature in seawater and that sends out hot air, which too adds to the day temperature. Government of Kerala has deputed a team of scientists, environmentalists, and experts in climate change related studies to visit the northern districts of Kerala to study this new development. The Govt of Kerala also plans to change the examination schedule of their X Board from next year as this year the children attending the examinations are facing difficulty to study inside their rooms. Most of them prefer to sit outside in the night, drink lots of water and study, as the heat inside homes proves unbearable.
Many reasons are attributed to this unusual scenario, particularly in Kerala, a State famous for its greenery, backwaters and natural scenic beauty. Its vast coastlines with coconut trees and internecine lakes, paddy fields and water bodies add to its beauty more. Its hilly terrain like Idukki and Vyanad are famous to attract tourists from within the country and outside. Rainy season tourism continues to be big business in Vynad district that attracts several tourists particularly from the IT sector. One of the main reasons for the developments in Palakkad, Kannur and Thrissur districts are reportedly the drying up of an infamous river Bharatapuzha, that was once a live-wire quenching the thirst of scores of people living all along its route. This river is now a parched, dry land, without any drop of water. Its present look brings tears down the cheeks of those who loved glory of the river. They curse the mafia and their political masters who dug out sand to be used mainly for construction purpose illegally and earned crores of rupees out of it. And the saddest irony was that not only such wanton digging of sand but also thousands of acres of paddy fields have been filled up and converted as sites to construct resorts by the vulture like builders. This happens despite a clear ban by government not to do so as it would affect the environment. But, before the greed of some people all these rules, regulations of government, scientists, environmentalists or social scientists come to naught. Ever since the phenomenon of global warming was brought to the fore, people continued to be educated through print and electronic media to stop all such activities that would miserably impact life of people. What all the people of Kerala face today would have been avoided had they heeded to such timely warnings. Now, it is too late and as usual the sufferers mostly are the common man, while the real culprits enjoy life in their air conditioned comforts elsewhere. It is ironic further that despite even the courts ruled that playing with environment was detrimental, denudation of forest, illegal mining, unauthorized occupation of forest land, leveling of hilly terrain, diversion of flow of rivers and illegal construction of stop dams takes place without any impunity. Rulers scream that all such activities will be stopped but after some time they too keep silent for reasons unknown to anyone. Who are at fault after all? When will people learn lessons when the nature itself started reacting cruelly in the form of sunstrokes in places where it was never heard before? Through the Old Testament Prophet- Amos, the Lord declares "I gave you empty stomach in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me. I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town, but withheld it from another. One field had rain another had none and dried up. People staggered from town to town for water, but did not get enough to drink; yet you have not returned to me. Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards. I struck them with blight and mildew. Locus devoured your fig and olive tree, yet you have not returned to me". (Amos 4: 6-9). Only sensible people can understand such divine feelings and all that we witness these days only attributes on man's alienation from the God Almighty who created the heaven and earth.
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Sunday, August 01, 2010
