Drastic climatic changes in Orissa
As Orissa is located at the head of the Bay of Bengal, a slight change in the sea's behaviour can have an immediate impact on the coast. Over the years, the state has experienced much adverse weather conditions.
THE STATE of Orissa situated on the East Coast of India between the parallels of 17.49’N and 22.34’N latitudes and meridians of 81.27’E and 87."E longitude is reeling under climatic chaos in recent years. Placed at the head of the Bay of Bengal, the state has become fast prone to climate changes, primarily because of its geographical locations and its position at the head of the Bay of Bengal. Over the years, the state has experienced much adverse weather conditions: from heat waves to cyclones and from droughts to floods.
Orissa has been experiencing bouts of heat waves over the years, with the worst heat wave being in 1998 which killed around 1500 people particularly in coastal Orissa. According to the reports, natural calamities in the state have claimed more than 30,000 lives over the past four years. Ironically, several parts of the state which were best known for moderate temperatures have been witnessing unprecedented rise in temperatures. Surprisingly, Koraput which was known as the ’Kashmir’ of Orissa just a few years back is now a days has crossed 40 degree celsius. What is causing concern environmentalists is that Koraput has witnessed an exceptional rise in daily maximum and minimum temperatures over the past one decade due to climate change. The climate of Koraput district has changed fast over the years resulting in the rise in temperature, said Koraput based leading Physician Dr. (Major) Bisweswar Mahapatra. Rapid furnace based industrialisation, deforestation and urbanization, has led to the unique climate to change in Koraput unexpectedly over the years, he added. The physician still recalls the summer days in Koraput when the maximum temperature was less than 30 degree Celsius even during the day time. How can I forget the beautiful climate of Koraput during those days in Koraput in 80s, when a blanket was a must for one and all to come out side even during a summer evening, Mahapatra reiterated.
In addition to the drought, the state has also been experiencing floods which have virtually become a common feature in the state with the monsoon of 2001 leading to the worst ever flood recorded in the state in the past century. Some districts in Western parts of the state , which had no history of floods, hitherto were totally submerged. Further, the frequency of cyclones has also increased in Orissa coast over the years. Two cyclones hit the state in quick succession in the year 1999 leaving the state ravaged. The second one which lasted for three days ruined 14 coastal districts. More than 15 million people were affected, while two million tones of rice crops were completely damaged and around 17,000 square kilometers of agricultural land was devastated.
Besides, the cyclone was also caused large scale destruction to forests and about 250,000 trees were reportedly being uprooted in an area of 30,000 hectares of reserved forest area. Because of the supper cyclone, the forest cover in the districts of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara was reduced by 50 percent. The rise in temperature in the state over the recent years has also reportedly adversely affected the cropping and flowering pattern. Mango and Mahua trees have been reported to flower unusually early. Mango trees in the state are now begin to flower in September and Mahua in December instead of November and February since 2000. Beacuse of the early flowering, low yield has been reported from many parts of the state during the past 10 years. According to the reports, an average of 900,000 hectares of agricultural land lose crops every year in the state thereby resulting in the decrease in agriculture share in the net state domestic product. Add to this, around 100,000 hectares of fertile agriculture lands in the coastal areas are becoming inundated every year and also from high levels of salinisation. This has also affected the rice production in the state. Besides, there have also been reports of depletion of mangroves adjoining the coastline resulting in coastal erosion since mangroves act as a natural protection of coast lines and hence increased the flood risk.
Why has Orissa been affected the most? The state is located at the head of the Bay of Bengal where a slight change in the sea’s behaviour can have an immediate impact on the coast. The Bay of Bengal becomes the centre of low pressure causing cyclone in the sub-continent and especially in Orissa. These cyclonic depressions involve circulation over thousands of kilometers between Orissa’s atmosphere and entire planetary circulation. Going by the key parameters of climate like temperature and rainfall over the years, the climate may worsen in Orissa in the days to come.
The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) says that hundreds of technologies are already available, at very low cost, to reduce climate damaging greenhouse gas emissions and that the government policies need to remove the barriers to these technologies. Implementing these solutions will not require humans to make sacrifices or otherwise impede their quality of life. However, for green solutions to global warming to find a foothold in the market, governments and corporations need to lead the shift away from polluting technology. While there is no ’silver bullet’ technological solution many tools already exist for addressing climate change, and new options on the horizon could potentially yield dramatic reduction in worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases.
Climate change is a global problem requiring a global response. Recognizing both that government action is inevitable and that policy decisions made on this will have substantial implications for combating the climate change, leaders involved in policy making should act fast to stop Global Warming.
.Global Warming is affecting the entire world and the entire world knows that too. It's time to start reacting to it. It's foreseen that the adverse effects are yet to be seen and it can not be stopped, however, we can act together at least to reduce it.
Your article is too informative and data provided gives weight to it.
.The article is a warning bell for the policy makers across the world to take some urgent measures to check the climate change.
.The article is quite informative.Hope merinews will up with more such articles in times to come.
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