Silent Valley’s core areas took the brunt of 2018 floods

Abdul Latheef Naha, Palakkad
The Hindu, July 15 2019

The rain and floods that devastated the State in August 2018 have struck an unimaginable blow to core areas of the Silent Valley National Park. Much of the damage inflicted by nature’s wrath still remains unassesed and unstudied.
Little did the outside world know about the 50-odd landslips that ravaged the core areas of the Silent Valley. About a dozen of the landslips were so huge that had they been in human inhabited areas, they would have taken quite a number of lives along their trail.
Authorities did not publicise the extensive damage caused to the Silent Valley as there had been many theories doing the rounds about the cause of the floods. When some argued that it was a man-made disaster, others said it was a result of unprecedented copious rain.
The iron bridge across the Kunthi river in the Silent Valley had been destroyed. So were many trek paths deep inside the valley. The roads inside the virgin valley developed cracks like never before. The real extent of destruction caused to plants and wildlife is yet to be studied.

Scientific advice sought

Samuel V. Pachuau, Wildlife Warden of the Silent Valley, said that they were closely monitoring the valley and had sought scientific advice about methods of addressing the damage. He said soil had been washed off and rocks exposed at several places.
“We have been advised by experts to wait and watch through this monsoon,” said Mr. Pachuau.
He indicated that there had been no visible impact on the habitat and population of the wildlife. But he said constant monitoring was needed. “Maybe we will start restoration work from next year,” said Mr. Pachuau.
The reports of unprecedented dryness in April-May this year apart, there have been widespread concerns about the flood’s potential impact on fauna.

Impact on fauna

V. Balachandran, Indian Dragonfly Society secretary who led a study on dragonflies soon after the floods in September last year, said that they could not step into the core area because of the devastation.
He said he had to be content with the buffer zone of the Silent Valley for the dragonfly survey. Although Mr. Balachandran could not come up with any comparable data from the Silent Valley, he found that the number of dragonflies and damselflies had gone alarmingly low.
The Forest and Wildlife Department had closed public entry to the Silent Valley in the wake of the devastation.
Repairs were done to the 23-km stretch from Mukkali to Watchtower and the valley was reopened for the public in February this year.