Chennai floods not linked to global warming: Prakash Javadekar

The Times of India , Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Correspondent : TNN
NEW DELHI: Days after the Chennai floods caught global attention during the just concluded Paris conference where world leaders linked such extreme weather conditions to climate change, the government on Monday said the unusual rainfall that occurred in Tamil Nadu was a "highly localised" event and its attribution to global warming is "not established".

"Extreme rainfall that occurred over coastal districts of Tamil Nadu is highly localised and is part of the natural variability of the Indian monsoon system. Although some studies have reported an increase in frequency and intensity of extremes in rainfall during the past 40-50 years, their attribution to global warming is not established," environment minister Prakash Javadekar said in reply to a question in Parliament.

Many world leaders, including US secretary of state John Kerry and French foreign minister Laurent Fabius, had referred to the Chennai floods while making a strong case for a global climate deal to save the world from similar weather events in future.

Javadekar in his written response said the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and assessment methodology used in India have indicated that extreme rainfall events are likely to be more frequent in the later part of the 21st century.

"As regards (to) other extreme weather phenomenon, there are many other reasons for their occurrence which may not be related to climate change," he said.

He said the Northeast monsoon season during October-December is the chief rainy season for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and during November, three large-scale weather systems affected both the places causing extensive rainfall activity over the region.

"The Earth System Science Organisation (ESSO)- IMD has predicted above normal rainfall in excess of 111% of the long period average in its forecast outlook for 2015 Northeast Monsoon season rainfall over the southern peninsula," the minister said.

Noting that floods occur due to the hydrological response of heavy rainfall, Javadekar said that its manifestation needs to be assessed by the local authorities.

"In this (Chennai floods) case, three days advance warnings were issued for placing emergency planning response action by the local authorities," he said.

The environment minister also referred to "non-climatic reasons" for flooding in cities and industries located in high risk locations, particularly coastal and riverine areas. These reasons include lack of proper urban planning, demographic pressures, improper sewage disposal and drainage systems, and encroachment of land.

"As per some reports, the rains and the excess water released from the dam at Chembarambakkam resulted in the flooding of Adyar, its banks and inundated its floodplain," he said.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Chennai-floods-not-linked-to-global-warming-Prakash-Javadekar/articleshow/50275547.cms
 


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