The "Excess Rain" Paradox: Climate Change, Urban Flooding, and the Northeast Monsoon
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Geography (Monsoon patterns - Southwest and Northeast, Cyclones, Cloudbursts); Environment & Ecology (Climate Change impacts, Urban Flooding, Vector-borne diseases); Inter-State Relations (Mullaperiyar Dam issue).
Mains:
General Studies Paper 1 (Geography): "Important Geophysical phenomena such as... floods, cyclones etc."; "Urbanization, their problems and their remedies" (specifically urban flooding).
General Studies Paper 2 (Polity & Governance): "Inter-state relations" (Mullaperiyar as a case study).
General Studies Paper 3 (Environment & Disaster Management): "Disaster and disaster management" (Urban Flooding, Man-made disasters); "Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, climate change".
Key Highlights from the News
Northeast Monsoon arrived early this year, predicted to bring above normal rainfall.
The article argues that due to Climate change, excess rain is becoming more of a curse than a blessing.
This is because the total amount of rain is not increasing as much as it is falling in short and localised bursts.
Impacts on cities: Paved surfaces prevent water from seeping into the soil, leading to urban flooding / flash floods.
Impacts on agriculture: Waterlogging damages plant roots, and topsoil erosion reduces soil fertility.
Health impacts: Stagnant water leads to mosquito breeding and the spread of vector-borne diseases (dengue, malaria).
Special situation in Tamil Nadu: While Tamil Nadu receives rain from the Northeast Monsoon, rain falling in the catchment area of Kerala's Mullaperiyar Dam also reaches Tamil Nadu. This creates a double whammy, exacerbating floods.
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