Question

write eassay in about 200 words to say what you will do to save the nilgiris.

Answer 1

Answer:

During 1978 and 1979 a number of devastating landslides occurred in the

Nilgiris causing loss of life and severe damage to property. Realizing the

urgent and imperative need for taking appropriate steps to control them

and prevent fresh landslides, the government of Tamil Nadu in collaboration

with the Geological Survey of India launched a detailed study. The report of

the study was published in 1982. The findings and recommendations of the

study are a matter of life and death to the Nilgiris and its people. Excerpts

from the Report.

History of Landslides

Landslides must have occurred in the Nilgiris ranges since time immemorial. But they

have been recorded only from the beginning of the last century. A huge landslide near

the spot where the Sispara Ghat road passes over Kundah hills sliced part of Kudikadu

hill in 1824 after heavy rains lashed the area for eight days. It was popularly known as

Avalanche landslide. The scar was a well known landmark which was later concealed by

forest growth. It was visible from as far as Ootacamund. A sprout of spring was reported

to have issued from the debris.

The Kotagiri-Mettupalyam road was damaged by a heavy rain storm in 1881. In

the same year landslips smothered the Coonoor ghat road at many places. Ten years

later, a record rainfall of 74 cm within a few days at Kotagiri brought traffic to a standstill

for three weeks due to many landslips on the Kotagiri-Mettupalayam road. A rainfall of

129 cm was recorded in a short period causing disastrous floods during the year 1891. In

December 1902, 53 cm of rain in Kotagiri including 22 cm on a single day brought havoc.

In October 1905 17 cm of rain brought in its wake ‘death and damage’ in Coonoor through

landslips.

The perpetual weak spot near Katteri Railway station was identified in the 1920s

when the locality was affected by debris falling over the railway track and the road

straddling its side.

Boulders disrupting the railway movement between Adderly and Runneymede

railway stations were quite frequent since then. Suggested steps included tying up of

loose boulders overhanging the railway track and keeping vigil during heavy rains.