With changing weather patterns, late withdrawal of monsoon is new normal, say experts

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 24

The late withdrawal of Southwest Monsoon 2021 appears to be the “new normal”, say experts, attributing the deadly weather fury in the hill state of Uttarakhand to the climate related change in pattern.

At the same time, however, the mass destruction is not only because of the climate crisis, they also warn, cautioning that “development plans and human interference are not complimenting the ecological balance” of ecologically fragile states.

According to Prof YP Sundriyal (head of Geology Department, HNB Garhwal University) the higher Himalayas are highly sensitive both climatically and tectonically.

“So much so that the construction of mega hydro-projects should be avoided or they should be of small capacity. The roads should also be constructed with scientific techniques. However, we see roads are being made or widened without taking proper measures such as no slope stability, lack of good quality retaining wall and rock bolting, measures that can restrict the damage done by landslides up to some extent,” he said.

Sundriyal adds that development is important but hydro-power plants, especially in higher Himalayas should be of less capacity.

“Policy and project implementation should consist of local geologists who understand the terrain well and how it responds,” he said.

The “manifold increase in the tourist influx over the years”, which has led to more “development” is also one of the reasons.

Environmentalist Atul Satti says earlier Uttarakhand used to host around 6 lakh tourists per year, a number which has now increased to over 15 lakhs.

“With this, there has been an increase in vehicular pollution, river pollution, construction activities, and commercialisation.

“The construction of hydropower projects and road widening activities have had a major impact over the region and all have contributed to the increase in temperatures along with change in rainfall pattern,” Satti added.

Meanwhile, the IMD said that the Southwest Monsoon is expected to withdraw from the entire country during next 48 hours with the setting in of northeasterly winds over Bay of Bengal and extreme south Peninsular India. 

Simultaneously, the Northeast Monsoon rains are also likely to commence over Southeast Peninsular India during next 48 hours. Widespread rainfall with isolated heavy falls can again be expected over Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal and south interior Karnataka over the next couple of days.

Flash flood fury in Uttarakhand is a classic example of extended stay of monsoon, say experts.

Though extreme weather events are not new, their increasing frequency is worrying the experts.

GP Sharma of the Skymet Weather says destructive rains in Uttarakhand can be attributed to the extended stay of the Southwest Monsoon 2021.  

“It is very much evident that had the monsoon departed timely, we would not have seen such torrential rains. Weather conditions were very favourable for such heavy precipitation on account of multiple weather systems coming together,” he added.