GS Paper III

News excerpt

As per a recent paper published at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, there has been a significant loss of natural vegetation in the Cauvery basin for 50 years (1965 to 2016).

Summary of the report

 The extent of Vegetation Loss:

• The report quantifies the loss of natural vegetation, revealing that approximately 12,850 sq. km of land in the Cauvery basin experienced a decline in natural vegetation cover.
• The reduction in dense vegetation was 35% (6,123 sq. km), while degraded vegetation witnessed a more significant decrease of 63%.

    Geographical Distribution of Loss:

•  Karnataka bears the brunt of the lost green cover, accounting for 3/4th of the total, while Tamil Nadu's share is around 1/5th.

• • The water demand of the two States increased and land use analysis showed that in 73.5% of the catchment, agriculture and horticulture constituted the dominant activity.

• The report identifies specific areas, such as the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, which have suffered adverse changes in forest cover.

• • In respect of the Bannerghatta National Park, the moist deciduous forest area, which was about 50% in 1973, stood at 28.5% in 2015 due to “anthropogenic pressure” on the National Park.

     Land Use Dynamics and Water Demand:

• The report traces the historical growth of the cropping area in the basin, emphasizing the rise in irrigated land in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
• This increase in agricultural activity contributes to a heightened demand for water in the region.

    Identified Issues and Challenges:

• The paper highlights various problems affecting the Cauvery basin, including inappropriate cropping patterns, inefficient water use, adoption of water-intensive crops, unsustainable mining of river sand, and a decline in community participation in watershed management.

     Proposed Solutions and Recommendations in Report:

•  To address the challenges, the report suggests integrated management of the catchment, restrictions on large-scale water-intensive cash crops, monoculture, and over-exploitation of groundwater.
•  It advocates for the enrichment of the catchment with native species, promotion of organic farming, establishment of effluent treatment plants, and ensuring zero discharge from industries.

Conclusion:

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the environmental changes in the Cauvery basin, shedding light on the contributing factors, challenges, and proposed measures for sustainable management. 

Prelims PYQ

Q. Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? (UPSC 2020)

1) Nagarhole National Park

2) Papikonda National Park

3) Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

4) Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a)    1 and 2 only

(b)    3 and 4 only

(c)     1, 3 and 4 only

(d)    1, 2, 3 and 4