The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel reporting to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has made several salutary recommendations for the long-term conservation of this global biodiversity hotspot. Renowned for their flora and fauna, along with the Eastern Himalayas, these mountains and valleys hugging the Arabian Sea coast for a length of 1,500 km need an overarching protection regime that cares as much for the tribal people they have sheltered as for their biological diversity. The experts studied scientific reports and Supreme Court judgments, consulted the State governments involved, and listened to village panchayats. A central message that emerges is that the entire ghat region meets the criteria for declaration as an ecologically sensitive area. Within this broad framework, the report makes the point that there are Ecologically Sensitive Zones of three levels of significance, which can be demarcated at the taluk or block level. The MoEF, which is empowered under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to declare any region as deserving of special protection, should consider this seriously. Such protection is essential to rule out incompatible activities such as mining, constructing large dams, and setting up polluting industries.
If there is one single reason to protect the whole of the Western Ghats, it is the phenomenon of endemism. According to reliable estimates, they have more than 1,500 endemic species of flowering plants, and at least 500 such species of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. New species continue to be reported. It is striking that the ghats represent an extraordinary sliver of diverse life in a populous country and have in fact survived with community support. The MoEF would therefore do well to heed the advice of the expert group and unhesitatingly reject environmental clearance for two controversial dam projects — Athirapilly in Kerala and Gundia in Karnataka. The locations of both come under the most sensitive ecological zone category. In this context, it is relevant that a decade ago the Kerala High Court directed the State Electricity Board to repair and restore all existing dams to maximise power output. Doing so can eliminate the need for a destructive new structure at Athirapilly. A second issue relates to mining in Goa. Here the panel has rightly called for an indefinite moratorium on clearances for new mines in sensitive zones and phasing out of the activity in fragile areas by 2016. The guidelines proposed are sound overall. Translating them into action through a statutory apex body such as a Western Ghats Ecological Authority holds the key.
Comments:
The western ghats must be left free from predatory activities like mining and dams in the view of their biological diversity. As the editorial points out, it is better to repair existing dams to increase power production.Ecological balance is required for the survival of humans.The unusual and ever increasing stress on growth rats must be reexamined from the vantage point of wide interests.
Western Ghat, indeed, presents a diverse picture of flora and fauna. So, recommendations given by western ghat panel must be implemented with letter and spirit. Protecting wildlife as well as unique tribal culture is in the interest of all human kind. Although, Illegal mining in parts of Goa, Karnataka and southern Maharashtra has caused extensive damage to this ecosystem. But at the same time by declaring a number of wildlife sanctuary and national park in southern Part of western ghat has presented a new example of conserving the nature.
The present government under the behest of UPA is only concerned to be in the race of economic development by any means even if all the poor dies of some reason as they are not contributing anything to the revenue. It is needless to say, the complete political brass (Ruling and Non ruling) is feeding on illegal mining (Extrapolating as Mother Earth) with exception of some of those mines due to Supreme Court orders. We have already seen a Chief Minister of Karnataka, Chief Minister’s son in A.P and many others getting involved. In this scenario, it is highly improbable that these Ghats can be protected when the remote control over CBI, Lokpal and with the new Judiciary bill, Complete Judiciary is in the hands of ruling party. Democracy is more like becoming Oligarchy. Even the policies that are being made are only protecting the interests of capitalism but not Demos, the people of the country. This might be a provocative comment but it’s a fact to be accepted.
You give a timely admonition to those who maintain a deaf ear to the sensitive enviornmental issues. Western Ghats, as you rightly characterise, is a sliver of amazing biological diversity. Big dams do not render good for the community. In fact, there is a world-wide campaign against them. Small dams are handy for preservation and distribution of water for human needs. It is time we switch to such ventures. Politcally supported mafia activities should be curbed with an ironfist to protect our biodiversity hot spots. The sooner the statutory apex bodies come into existence the better for the ecology reserves.
Where would one find this Report of the WGEEP. It is not posted on MoEF
website. The last posting there is the May Minutes (posted in July).
But I have seen several articles recently in The Hindu by KS Sudhi on
the subject. Could you please put this Report on the Resources Section?
the western ghat represent hot spot of world but the mining activity and other destructive work not stopped their due to political reason but it is welcome effort by panel to conserve it.The ghat represent a microcentre for various flora and fauna .the positive approach by govt behind it mining stopped in karnataka and establishment of sindhudurg park in maharastra.
The ecology of the Western Ghats would be substantially augmented by draining out the entire Mullaperiyar reservoir and leveling the eyesore of a dam that creates it. This would permit the entire waters of the Mullayar and Periyar to flow into the Idukki Dam and permit generation of electricity that may otherwise have to be generated by installing new capacity at the Athirapalli area for which the MoEF is dragging its feet endlessly. Apart from restoring pristine rain forests to their original glory and providing flora and fauna endemic to the area with a clement environment, it could cool off a hot bed of contention that threatens the peace and tranquility of not just this primordial locale, but large tracts of land further down and east.
Not only Western Ghats but also Vindhya Sathpura and Himalyas are important. We exploit these ghats for power and water needs. Let automic power be available in plenty and let us save rain and river water in lains so that we need not disturb ghats. If this is done, we can save ghats.
a kind of holy nexus or we can say a historical n natural integration exists between tribals n their immediate env.,"AVATAR" movie beautifully reflect that assotiation, wen we talk tribals..say in newspapers or T.V(though very less here as compared to magnitude of their problem) always a lack of proper human consideration(i certainly feel this?)let them evolve n progress on their own terms...interference inadverntly into their affairs is also a HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATION..the demand of capitalist mode is endless...but we certainly can evolve a strategy which can take care of all....
Hydro power projects are not polluting. They avoid flooding, supply drinking water and assure irrigation to large areas of agricultural land, thereby increasing agricultural productivity. These benefits are apart from generation of electricity, which is done only during the period of irrigation discharge. These are the reasons based on which Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called the dams as temples of modern India. Such dams are only in Public Sector.Private companies are not to be allowed to exploit the natural resource i.e. water.
Coal based thermal power plants are polluting. Nuclear power plants' safety is unclear. Wind power is seasonal. Solar power is costly and needs lot of land and not continuous. The demand for electricity is increasing by10% per year. We can have all these and make the best use of them all. So, establishing the Hydro electric power stations should not be discouraged.
The four ecological ornaments-himalayas,deccan,gangetic plain and
coastal plains should be governed geographically in a separate manner.