EDITOR’S DESK
KERALA FACES BIGGEST NATURAL
CALAMITY IN HUNDRED YEARS
For the past several days Kerala 'The God's Own
Country' is facing natural calamity caused by
floods worst in past 100 years. Nearly all of 14
districts of Kerala are suffering from floods due
to heavy rains, swelling of rivers and
mismanagement of dam waters releasing water
all of a sudden. Flood has rendered most of the
population suffer heavily. Most people have lost
their homes and they do not have clothes to wear
and food to eat. Even flood water has surrounded
the inhabited areas all around but there is no
dinking water, no medicines and no shelter.
Nearly 3879 camps have been set up to help
people where more then 14.5 lac people are
taking refuge. Overall 20 lac people are affected.
The death toll due to flood is 370.
This calamity has taken Kerala 15 years' back in
its economic development. The economy has
suffered a loss of nearly ` 20,000 crore and
industry, trade and agriculture have suffered
very badly. Rice fields are submerged in water for
more than 10 days leaving no chance to save the
crop. There is loss of life, livelihood, homes, road,
bridges, power lines, public infrastructures and
almost everything. The socio-economic fabric is
very badly shattered.
The tourism industry expecting a big tourist
inflow in ONAM Festival is now disappointed.
ONAM is being celebrated on 15th August to
27th August but the festival purchases by the
general public will be negligible because of
destruction caused by the flood.
There will be no peak period of shopping now in
ONAM for consumer goods and durables losing,
trade to the tune of nearly `3000 crore.
Agriculture sector will suffer a loss of more than
`1000 crore and the plantation sector alone will
account for a loss of ` 700 crore. The plantation
sector which was already battling with high cost
and law productivity has now been ruined by
floods. About 60% of the rubber and 50% of tea
plantations have been destroyed. Similarly
cardamom, coffee, clove and pepper crops are
facing total ruin.
Most of the tourist spots like Munnar, Thekkady,
Kuttanad, Kumarakam, and Wayanad have been
hit by rains and floods. The Neelakurinji flower
in Munnar that blossoms once in 12 years
attracting hoards of tourists will now be delayed
or stopped in August. The main tourism sector
that begins in October each year will also be
impacted.
The main challenge before the Kerala State is
now to revive the economy and help the
distressed families suffering due to devastating
floods.
The Central Govt. and people all over the country
will do their best to help the state financially and
reconstruct the damaged infrastructure quickly.
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Economic Challenger// ISSN 0975-1351/ Issue 81, October - December 2018