Kerala’s monsoon crisis: Rains aren’t the only reason

Once welcomed as a relief from scorching summers, Kerala’s monsoon has now become a season of anxiety. Since the early arrival of the southwest monsoon on May 23, torrential rains have triggered overflowing rivers, landslides, and disrupted daily life. But experts say it’s not just the rain — it’s what we’ve done to the land.

More than just rain

Environmental activist SP Ravi and disaster expert KG Thara explain that the recurring floods and landslides are a result of decades of land mismanagement and unchecked development. Paddy fields, once natural water buffers, have shrunk from 8.75 lakh hectares in 1971 to just 2 lakh today, accelerating flood risks.

Changing monsoons, ignored warnings

Kerala’s monsoon behaviour has become erratic since the early 2000s — from droughts to sudden deluges. The catastrophic floods of 2018 and the deadly landslides in Wayanad in 2024 are grim reminders. Cyclones like Ockhi and Gaja have proven Kerala is no longer insulated from coastal storms.

Urban planning failures

Thara warns that haphazard construction, especially in eco-sensitive areas like Munnar, is straining fragile ecosystems. Legalising illegal structures under amended land laws, she argues, has undermined ecological protection.

Forests lost, floods gained

Kerala’s forest cover has fallen below 15%, with many areas replaced by monoculture plantations. “Natural forests slow down rainwater; plantations do not,” says Ravi. This has increased runoff and reduced groundwater recharge.

Infrastructure gone wrong

Highways like NH66 and even the Cochin airport have been built on floodplains. Ravi says poor planning and construction on ecologically risky land has only made things worse.

Disaster response improves, but gaps remain

Kerala has made strides in disaster response — improved dam management, rapid-response teams, and citizen weather monitoring. But lack of coordination, especially with Tamil Nadu-controlled dams, and absence of an integrated reservoir strategy remain critical gaps.

Gadgil report — ignored at a cost

Both experts stress the importance of revisiting Madhav Gadgil’s Western Ghats report, which called for community-based eco-zone planning. Successive governments diluted the recommendations, leading to unregulated construction in sensitive areas.

What Kerala needs now

Experts call for:

• A Kerala-specific land-use policy

“Disasters will happen,” says Thara. “But the real tragedy is failing to learn from them.”