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CoverStory KERALA FLOODS

is susceptible to flooding and Chennai airport too was The Kerala government is
flooded.
In Kerala, the cumulative rainfall of 2,378 mm over 88 exploring the possibility
days, four times more than normal was the most intense
than the flood of 1924. The reason why Kerala got so bat- of legal options to avail
tered was that its capacity to deal with such calamities
was reduced due to illegal stone quarrying, cutting down the funds offered to the
forests and grasslands, changing drainage patterns and
sand mining on river beds. state, including that from
“Rampant stone quarrying and digging of pits is
the reason behind the landslides and landslips, abroad. The Centre had
which worsened the situation in the Kerala floods,”
Madhav Gadgil, ecologist and founder of the Cen - earlier refused to accept
tre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of
Science, Bengaluru, was quoted in the media. “These the UAE’s `700 crore offer
quarries cause deforestation and block the natu -
ral streams, which help in reducing the intensity
of the floods.” to the most diverse range of life in the subconti -
Most of the 373 casualties in Kerala were caused by nent: 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species
landslides in the northern districts of Malappuram and of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species,
Wayanad, and the central district of Idukki. 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000
Spread across 160,000 square kilometres, more than insects species and 290 freshwater fish species.
three times the size of Haryana state, the Western Ghats The Ghats are also a source of about 20 rivers and
extend over six states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, tributaries flowing through the Indian peninsula, and its
Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat — along with India’s west- forests and grasslands act as a super sponge, soaking up
ern coast. excess rain.
The rain and tropical forests of the Ghats are
Losses due to floods one of the world’s 10 “biodiversity hotspots”, home LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
are more than the
state’s annual plan

INDIA INC RISES TO THE OCCASION, Fathi Health Care Group and Abir Group majors like Google, retailer Amazon, out a batch of supplies through HOPE
Microsoft, Bigbasket and the like.
Foundation to the most affected places.
of Saudi Arabia donated 1 crore each.
Google’s Geo platform and Google
Axis Bank donated 2 crore and com-
E-commerce major Flipkart and on-
OPENS UP ITS PURSE STRINGS mitted another 3 crore for rehabilita- Developers Experts issued warnings line grocery firms Grofers and Bigbasket
tion through partner NGOs.
of closed roads across the most affected
are asking people to donate to NGO
Goonj.
Employees of GAIL contributed a
districts. Google also activated its
day’s salary, 1.54 crore. The PSU oil Person Finder in English and A Eureka Forbes statement said it sent
companies donated 25 crore, the Malayalam — about 22,000 records 16000 water bottles and also collabo-
THE INDIA Inc. too stood up and be The Reliance Foundation contributed government servants and private sector Seafood Exporters Association sent were checked at last count, a Google rated with Habitat India.
counted in helping the flood-devastated 21 crore, and also has placed relief employees too pitched in with their 1.15 crore. CII-Telangana said member statement said. Reliance Digital said it would tie up
Kerala and its people. All the top busi- teams on the ground. RF has commit- contributions, companies, including TCS, ITC PSPD, Retailer Amazon India is facilitating with manufacturers for repair clinics
ness leaders and captains of industry ted to setting up medical camps with Other significant corporate donors to Gati, Shree Malani Group, Ankur Bis- non-profits Habitat for Humanity India, for appliances, with free labour and
announced immediate relief in terms of Malayalam-speaking doctors and the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund cuits, Ravi Foods, and a few individual World Vision India, and Goonj, and materials at cost. Reliance Jio has given
money and materials. paramedical staff, supplying medicines are the Kerala State Electricity Board donors had sent over 23 tonnes of relief encouraging customers to donate relief its Kerala customers free seven-day
So far, the biggest donor was the to the government for use by district ( 25cr), ICICI Bank ( 8cr), Ramco material, and two RO plants from Tata goods to them through its platform. The packages. Idea Cellular has set up call
Adani Foundation, with 25 crore for authorities, and providing construction Cements ( 2cr), TVS Motors ( 1.5cr), Hero Projects, which can purify 1,000 litres company said employees have donated booths at relief camps in the most-
immediate relief, and another 25 crore equipment and skilled workers to repair Motors, MRF, Muthoot Finance, Sun TV, an hour. lakhs of rupees through. affected areas to help people make
committed for rehabilitation and reset- or rebuild public infrastructure. The and TV Sundram Iyengar & Sons ( 1cr Kerala-based Josco Jewellers contrib- Microsoft is also encouraging dona- free calls and waived SIM replacement
tlement. The parent group’s employees parent group has contributed relief ma- each). And VIT University, Vellore, sent uted 2.5 crore and Kalyan Jewellers tions from its employees from their charges till August 31.
have pledged a day’s salary to Kerala. terial close to 50 crore, mostly through 1 crore. The Mumbai-based Jyothi Labo- 1.1 crore. August salaries, and the company will Several Malayali organisations in
The foundation’s members are working Reliance Retail. ratories, whose promoters hail from the The others who pitched in with their match that sum, which would fund different cities across the globe collected
in remote areas of the state distributing It is not just the private sector even the state, donated 1.28 crore. technology to help in relief and rescue Oxfam India relief assistance. Similarly, money and material and sent them to
relief materials. public sector undertakings, individuals, Also from West Asia, Dubai-based operations include the technology German software-maker SAP has sent Kerala for immediate relief.

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