The rain shadow regions of Marayur in Idukki district are witnessing a severe drought-like situation even as wildfires are reported in forests and grasslands in the district.
Marayur and Chinnar, on the boarder with Tamil Nadu, fall in a rain shadow region. The wildfires have destroyed trees and grasslands in large tracts and environmentalists say this would affect the availability of water in the coming days. The aged people of Marayur say they had not experienced so many wildfires in the past.
Barren land
According to Gunasekharan, an early settler and farmer, once large tracts are destroyed in wildfires, the area will turn a barren land, where only cactus will grow.
It is alleged that the Forest Department has failed in controlling the wildfires. Of the 64-sq km area of the Marayur sandalwood division, fire lines have been cleared and measures against wildfires taken only in 13 sq km.
During June-July when the State experiences heavy rainfall, these rain shadow regions, which are in the eastern side of the Western Ghats, receive no rain. Farming activities in these areas depend on very mild and fog-like rainfall. The groundwater level has fallen considerably owing to large-scale destruction of trees. It is only in October, the Marayur, Kanthallur and Chinnar areas receive rain.
For three days
According to reports, wildfires have been continuing in large areas of forests and grasslands for the past three days. As it has spread to more areas, it has become difficult to control the fire.
This season, wildfires have been reported from Pothadimala, Vengaparamala and Kodikuthimala in the Marayur sandalwood reserve and in the forest area extending up to the Anamudi national park, which includes Theerthamala, Chinnamala, Chempattikudy, Peradipallom, and Anchuveedu. Murugan mala and Anakkotta park, near Marayur town, have already witnessed wildfires.
Environmentalist Murukesan says the region is experiencing a climate change. If the tree cover is lost in the fires, the entire Anchunadu valley will experience severe drought and climate similar to that of Tamil Nadu, he says.
