Question:The Dharmagiri hills witnessed a never before seen tragedy in the form of a landslide, devastating the lives of many.Imagine that you are the reporter of a leading daily.prepare a news paper report (10 mark)
Answers
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Atomic Number & Element \\
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1 & Hydrogen \\
2 & Helium \\
3 & Lithium \\
4 & Beryllium \\
5 & Boron \\
6 & Carbon
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Answer:
BENGALURU: Hopes of finding survivors in Thursday’s landslide on Brahmagiri Hills, Kodagu, were fading after rains hampered rescue efforts on Friday. The region is not new to monsoon devastation, but geologists, environmentalists and even some officials said that the latest tragedy could have been prevented with enforcement of green norms.
“There are two types of landslides: naturally occurring and human-induced. The Kodagu landslide is mostly a man-made tragedy as there were unscientific digging, construction and commercial activities. Authorities also ignored warnings and suggestions of the Geological Survey of India (GSI),” said a senior revenue officer from Bengaluru, who visited the place a day after the landslide.
Environmentalists also blamed a plantation drive by the forest department atop Brahmagiri Hills some years ago. They say 50-60 percolation pits and trenches were created there using excavators. GSI reports have suggested that heavy machinery, such as backhoes, was used to level slopes for construction of structures, including stairways and car parking, for the famous shrine of Talacauvery. The work, along with other activities in the area, led to loosening of the soil, which, in turn impacted the hill’s natural drainage system.
“Record rain of 486mm was naturally the trigger (for Thursday’s landslide). But unscientific development activities undertaken over the years was the root reason,” said KM Chinnappa, president of Wildlife First and a former forest oficer. The other major cause is growing tourism and commercial activities on the hilltop, according to former law minister MC Nanaiah. “Till the early 2000, only religious activities happened on the hill. Not many people other than the indigenous Kodavas, who have made the origin of Cauvery as their pilgrimage centre, and visitors from Tamil Nadu, who revere Goddess Cauvery, went there. Now, most of the tourists visiting Kodagu make it a point to go there without knowing its religious importance,” he said.
The influx of tourists, Nanaiah added, had resulted in commercial activities along the stretch between Bhagamandala and Talacauvery, where people have set up shops and hotels.
The GSI team conducted a field study after the devastating landslides in Kodagu in 2018. It said in a report that slope modification without precautions was the main reason for the landslides. It also identified Talacauvery Temple and Korangala areas as spots vulnerable to landslides.
After noticing cracks on the hill because of multiple trenches dug by the forest department for conservation of water and prevention of soil erosion, the GSI team suggested that the gaps should be filled with impervious material to reduce chances of water infiltration into deep mud. It also suggested slope grading, construction of a retaining wall with weep holes and plantation on the slope. Nothing was done.
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