The steadily ascending inflation and the resultant rise in prices of items of daily use in this hill station has become a source of serious concern not only to the people belonging to various strata of the society but also to the conservationists and green campaigners.

Decreasing supply

Pointing out that unlike in the plains the need for fuel to cook or heat water was more here owing to the climate, conservationist N.Mohanraj says that due to the hike in the prices of Liquid petroleum Gas and inadequate supply of kerosene, dependence on firewood was increasing.

In both the rural and urban areas people particularly women heading home with head loads of branches, twigs, barks etc collected from forest areas has become a common sight.

Impact

Even though impact of this is more on the tree cover outside the reserve forests, the long term effect will be highly detrimental to the sensitive environment of the Blue Mountains.

Stating that the increasing pressure on the forests will have a cascading effect, he fears that the depleting green cover along with the disappearance of the bio mass will lead to reduced precipitation and run off.

Consequently more carbon dioxide will be released into the atmosphere.

Temperature

Matters will be made worse if the number of persons and industries using firewood increases as temperature inversion could lead to health problems including cancer. In addition loss of tree cover will result in temperatures rising and lead to soil erosion.

Silting

This, in turn will lead to the silting up of hydro electric dams which would bring down power generation.

Stating that there are lessons to be learnt from the impact of the price rise on the environment of the Nilgiris, Mr Mohanraj feels that the authorities should utilize the situation to put in place a plan of action to manage judiciously the natural resources.

Source: THE HINDU

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