Flash Floods & Rain fury could be curbed, Dalhousie suggests quick-fix solutions
People of Himachal Pradesh in the mid of profound weather vagaries are trying to balm their wounds by themselves as no tangible aid are not coming from any quarters to address the frequent incidents.
The forest division Dalhousie, one of the renowned tourism destinations in the state came out with a quick-fix solution if it could not comply with prevent such incidents at least it could avert the impact of torrential rain-related tragedies and may curb the losses being caused by the flashflood and rain fury which is washing fertile lands and top layers of soils.
The mitigation measures do not sound effective but easy and affordable and within the reach of commoners moreover, they enrich the environment and ecology if being planned systematically
Divisional Forest Officer, Dalhousie Rajneesh Mahajan said that on the initiative of the department under Forest Zone Bhatiat, 2500 cuttings of Vadah (Salix) were planted on Monday.
He said with the assistance of the public including young students provided their cooperation for the effective prevention of heavy landslides or avert soil erosion and damage being caused by torrential rain around Motla village and water drain in the forest division.
He said that as an effective and easily available solution around 2500 cuttings of Vadah (salix) plants are planted which not only grow quickly but its root system binds the soils on the slopes of the hills.
“Number of plants and grass varieties are available there with state horticulture and forest extension center also being provided to protect top soil which could stop perennial losses to a great extent if not completely stopped,” he claimed.
Rajneesh Mahajan said that they are motivating the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, local residents, and school students to plant more and more trees and told that species like bamboo, rosewood, bamboo, etc. are considered more effective for effective prevention of landslides. Such species should be planted in moist areas so that landslides and flash floods could be prevented.
Such type of plantation may settle the vulnerable places of dumping and sidewalls of fields and farms from caving in the rainy season. There is a number of varieties of Grass used as folders and quickly grow in loose soils and flashflood-prone areas. This could provide not only fodder to feed the cattle but contain the wild animal not infest the crops.
He said that at the times when top fertile soil which took more than two decades to form one-inch layers being washed and becoming vulnerable due to human activities like mining, construction of more roads dumping, and choking of drains and nullah by unscientific disposal of non-biodegradable garbage.
There are many varieties of plants and trees that could grow with high speed and forthwith prove effective to stop soil erosion. A number of varieties of trees itself grows naturally in landslide-prone areas and such plantations could be increased by the active participation of people.
