Archive · 6 Dec 2025
Western Ghats Streams Drying, Alarm Raised
The Western Ghats, a important area for water and wildlife, are facing a serious problem.
The streams and rivers there are drying up, even though there has been a lot of rain.
This is happening because the forests and grasslands, which normally hold water like a sponge, are being damaged.
Forest fires, landslides, and human activities like building resorts and trekking are making the problem worse.
If this continues, it could lead to water shortages in cities like Mangaluru and Udupi, more conflicts between humans and animals, and even the collapse of the entire ecosystem.
Environmentalists are calling for better protection and awareness to save the Ghats.
Streams in the Western Ghats are flowing at half their usual capacity despite regular rainfall.
Deforestation, landslides, and human interference are causing water to run off instead of being absorbed.
Grasslands, crucial for water retention, are being damaged by repeated forest fires.
Dwindling water flow threatens downstream cities and could lead to increased human-wildlife conflict.
Government efforts include stricter regulations, but activists call for more public awareness and action.
- Who
- Environmentalists Dinesh Holla and Shashidhar Shetty, Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre, Local Residents
- What
- Drying streams and rivers in the Western Ghats, raising concerns about ecosystem collapse and future water scarcity
- When
- Observed recently, with historical context of 2017 and 2019 landslides
- Where
- Western Ghats, specifically in coastal Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada)
- Why
- Due to deforestation, landslides, human interference, forest fires, and chemical runoff, leading to reduced water absorption and retention in the ecosystem
- Location
- Western Ghats, Coastal Karnataka (Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada)
- Key Streams Affected
- Soppinagudda, Ramanagudda, Mundaje
- Major Rivers
- Sharavati, Netravati, Kumaradhara, Seetha, Swarna, Aghanashini, Kali
- Feeder Streams to Netravati
- Yelaneeru, Bandaje, Mrityunjaya, Aniyuru, Sunala, Neriya, Kapila, Kempu, Kumaradhara
- Causes of Depletion
- Deforestation, Landslides, Human Interference, Forest Fires, Chemical Runoff
- Potential Impacts
- Water Scarcity, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Ecosystem Collapse
- Government Actions
- Strict Measures to Curb Illegal Occupation, Regulate Trekking, Improve Enforcement