Addressing soil loss

Addressing soil loss

News:

1. Writer talks about negligence by the government in addressing the issue of soil degradation while doing rehabilitation program

Important analysis

• The Recent floods in Kerala and Kodagu caused heavy life death toll, devastated the infrastructure and crops.
• In rebuilding the program, the government will build houses, roads and key infrastructure and crop losses will be compensated by the insurance program.
• But the issue of loss in soil degradation are getting neglected.

2. Data based Earlier Studies

• A 2014 review of soil degradation in India by many institutes shows that annual flooding causes estimated 14 million hectares suffer soil degradation.
• The National Bureau of soil survey and land use planning (NBSS&LUP)made a review on 2009 floods in North Karnataka covering 13 district- loss of 287 million tons of top soil and soil nutrients.
• Author has raised the concern that there is no comprehensive scheme for recover even after Nine years.

3. Few district have State’s integrated watershed scheme, which shows these area have shallow soil depth, organic carbon deficiency, and low productivity of land.

4. The author has also made contrasting observation between the HimalayanRivers and rivers in central and south India.

5. Himalayan rivers wash the farmlands and replenish them with alluvial fertile soil, but rivers in the south and central India wash the nutrients lead to soil degradation.

6.Finally, the author hopes that the rehabilitation program should also consider the soil degradation.