Chhattisgarh - Climate
The climate of Chhattisgarh is tropical. It is hot and humid because of its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and its dependence on the monsoons for rains. Summer in Chhattisgarh is from April to June and temperatures can reach 48°C (100°F). The monsoon season is from late June to October and is a welcome respite from the heat. Chhattisgarh receives an average of 1,292 millimetres (50.9 in) of rain. Winter is from November to January and it is a good time to visit Chhattisgarh. Winters are pleasant with low temperatures and less humidity. The temperature varies between 30 and 47°C (86 and 117°F) in summer and between 5 and 25°C (41 and 77°F) during winter. However, extremes in temperature can be observed with scales falling to less than 0°C to 49°C.
Since around 2010, there have been many changes in the rainfall pattern. The number of rainy days has been steadily decreasing. Rainfall has become irregular and scattered. As a result, people are not able to use water as per their requirements and needs. For example, in agriculture, every task like sowing and preparing the land for the next crop must be done at the correct time. For this availability of water and irrigation facilities are essential. Rainfall affects the level of water in rivers, lakes, tube-wells, wells and nallahs. In un-irrigated areas, the level of water declines and this affects the nistaari and drinking water needs of the people and of animals. Nistaari refers to usufruct rights granted to communities dependent on forests and other resources, at prices below the market price or free of charge.
Climate change will have wide-ranging effects on the environment, and on socio-economic and related sectors, including water resources, agriculture and food security, human health, terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity and coastal zones. Changes in rainfall pattern are likely to lead to severe water shortages and/or flooding. Melting of glaciers can cause flooding and soil erosion. Rising temperatures will cause shifts in crop growing seasons, which affects food security, and changes in the distribution of disease vectors putting more people at risk from diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. Temperature increases will potentially severely increase rates of extinction for many habitats and species (up to 30 percent with a 2°C rise in temperature). A rise in extreme events will have effects on health and lives as well as associated environmental and economic impacts.
Because of the speed at which change is happening due to global temperature rise, it is urgent that the vulnerability of developing countries to climate change is reduced and their capacity to adapt is increased and national adaptation plans are implemented. Future vulnerability depends not only on climate change but also on the type of development path that is pursued. Thus adaptation should be implemented in the context of national and global sustainable development efforts. The international community is identifying resources, tools, and approaches to support this effort. Adapting to climate change entails taking the right measures to reduce the negative effects of climate change (or exploit the positive ones) by making the appropriate adjustments and changes.
There are many options and opportunities to adapt. These range from technological options such as increased sea defences or flood-proof houses on stilts, to behaviour change at the individual level, such as reducing water use in times of drought and using insecticide-sprayed mosquito nets. Other strategies include early warning systems for extreme events, better water management, improved risk management, various insurance options and biodiversity conservation.
Increase in productivity is a function, among other factors, of water availability. The importance of judicious use of available water cannot be over-emphasized. The irrigation potential of the state has increased from 13.3 lakh hectare in 2000 to 18.4 lakh hectare by March 2012, but this is far short of providing water security to the small farmers. The eleventh plan target was to create an additional irrigation potential of 4.8 lakh hectare, but so far only one-fourth of this target has been achieved. As a result, food grain production during Rabi is barely 25 percent of State’s Kharif production. To reduce overdependence on large dams and major projects for irrigation, which face problems in environmental and other clearances, the State will shift attention to developing and utilizing the potential of minor and medium irrigations projects and locally impounding water. Though there is high dependence on surface water for irrigation (76 percent), vast untapped potential still exists.
It is evident that a changing climate can pose serious threats to the existing crops and agricultural practices in Chhattisgarh. Any short-term or long-term fluctuations of climate can have dramatic effects on the agricultural productivity and impact food security. Recent years have seen increased climatic variability like frequent floods and drought affecting agricultural productivity. Adding to it, increased population pressure on the state and subsequently decreasing per capita availability of land is leading to unsustainable practices like monoculture.If global patterns of increase in temperatures and decrease in water availability apply to the State, productivity of most crops would decrease, with greater loss expected in Rabi as compared to Kharif.
A change in water availability and supply also affects sewered sanitation and drainage systems. When water supplies reduce, sewerage systems also become vulnerable. Further, sewage treatment plants are vulnerable to floods, as these are often located near rivers or water bodies. Storm water drainage systems could become frequently overloaded and cause flooding if heavy storms become more frequent due to climate change. The impact of inadequate drainage systems in cities like Mumbai is already being felt leading to flooding and huge economic losses. More frequent floods could also present a significant threat if these lead to contamination of floodwaters with faecal material. Climate change may impact upon transport and other infrastructure due to extreme local climatic experiences, leading to significant economic losses. The urban-heat island effects could get exacerbated due to increase in baseline temperatures, affecting climatic comfort of the urban populations and may consequently lead to additional costs in climate control.
The vulnerability of human populations varies with economic, social, and institutional conditions. The poor and the marginalized have little capacity to adapt to changes in climate by adopting such mechanisms as air-conditioning or heating. The traditional coping mechanisms of these vulnerable communities may be over stretched due to additional stresses related to climate change. Climate change threatens the homes, livelihoods, and health of the urban poor. When disasters strike, their homes may be damaged or destroyed and they may be unable to travel to work causing them to lose money for food and other basic needs. Poor people often live in informal settlements on land, which is susceptible to climate change – flood plains, lowlands, or unstable hillsides. Drains and culverts are frequently blocked with rubbish. Slum dwellers often lack secure tenure, proper shelter, water, sanitation, electricity and other services. Most have no insurance. Climate change may add to their problems.
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