Climate time bomb ticking away for Karnataka

Karnataka will be warmer by 2 degree Celsius, especially the northern parts; average rainfall will come down by 6%; Krishna basin districts will face drought more often; and water shortage problems will worsen further — these are some dreadful predictions by Bangalore Climate Change Initiatives — Karnataka (BCCI-K) in its interim report released to the state government on Friday. These predictions are for the period 2030-50.

The report sounds alarm bells over threat to quality of life in the state due to the receding forest cover from the annual 8%(2001 to 2007) to 38% and a rise in carbon emissions from the present 80 mn tonnes to 244 mn tonnes by 2030.

BCCI-K chairman, professor BK Chandrashekar, submitted the report saying, “On an average the annual rainfall over the state has decreased by 6% over the period of 1951-2004. The state is projected to experience warming by 1.8 to 2.2 degree Celsius in temperature by 2030, especially in north-eastern parts of the state, where its impact will be felt more. Some districts may face drought more frequently,” he said.

“During 2001-07 forest cover saw reduction of 8%, but by 2030, we may loose over 38%, causing severe problems for people in Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and Chikmagalur districts,” he said.

Karnataka, by 2050, will be next only to Rajasthan in experiencing acute water shortage problems due to large tracts of arid land, the report says. Krishna river basin districts would face more frequent droughts; and although good rainfall could be expected in the Cauvery basin, the area would suffer due to rise in water evaporation, which will increase from 3% to 7%.