NOT SO GLOBAL WARMING

�Global warming not affecting India�

Pune, July 7: FORMER scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and eminent scientist Vasant Gowarikar feels that global warming has not affected the Indian climatic system.
Speaking at the inauguration of a National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC) sponsored workshop at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA), Gowarikar pointed towards the India Meteorological Departments data on cyclones and rainfall, which are indicators of global warming.

‘‘If we look at the last 115 years of data on cyclones, we will find that the highest number of cyclones (10) hit the country in 1893, 1926 and 1930. If we check last 20 years’ data, the highest number of cyclones in that period, which is six, hit the Indian shores in 1992 and 1998,’’ Gowarikar said.
He then pointed out that the highest rainfall recorded in the country was in 1917, with 1457.3 cm of rainfall and the lowest was around 913 cm in 1918. ‘‘In the last 20 years, the highest rainfall was recorded in 1988 with 1288 cms while the lowest was in 2000 with 939 cms. If climate change has taken place in terms of warming, that should reflect on this data. But there is nothing to indicate the claims of warming affecting the Indian climate system,’’ Gowarikar said.
According to him, many scientists across the world have claimed that the global warming has affected India, which was not true. ‘‘Many point out to the heavy rainfall over Mumbai on July 27 in 2005. But it is to be noted that while places like Santa Cruz received 94.4 cms of rainfall, Colaba recorded only 7.3 cms of rain in a period of 24 hours,’’ Gowarikar said. According to him, the monsoon is one of the most complex weather phenomenon as it involves both local and global factors.
Gowarikar blamed the western countries for global warming and suggested that the developed nations should be putting in more efforts to undo the harmful effects of all these years. ‘‘India should not be made the part of a gang responsible for global warming. It is a phenomenon that is affecting the western nations more,’’ he said.
Gowarikar also expressed his concerns about the damage been done to the hills in the name of development. ‘‘Without the hills, we won’t have any rains. Moreover, the ground water levels are depleting day by day. This will eventually lead to desertification, which is an irreversible process,’’ he said.