Gadgil Report on Western Ghats-Why the Controversies? Part 3

WHAT ARE THE CONTROVERSIES RELATED WITH THE REPORT?

The report denied approval for Athirappilly and Gundia hydel project on the basis that they will adversely affect the endangered species of western ghats. The cost of environmental impact is far much than the estimated cost of power produced from these projects. But the states were pressing for these projects at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for a long time. They were in grave need of extra power to satisfy their needs. The Kerala government thinks enacting the report will hinder the growth. Normally the Kerala and Karnataka governments were angry about the report. Hence they rejected it at once. Further if the report was enacted, the land mafias and mining lobbies around the south India can no longer continue their unauthorized activities. So of course they were pissed off. So they started spreading wrong notions and baseless rumors, about the report, among the farmers and tribal that if the report was enacted the people will be thrown out of their lands. Therefore the farmers and tribes turned against the report.

ATHIRAPPILLY PROJECT

Athirappilly project leads to endangering of birds such as the Malabar Grey Hornbill, Grey Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill and the Great Indian Hornbill. 

MALABAR GREY HORNBILL

Further many rare species of aquatic fauna is found here. The Chalakkudy river on which the project is proposed, was recommended to be declared as a Fish Sanctuary by the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources. Construction of dam will interfere the migration of some species of fish through the river to complete their annual life cycle. This will directly affect their survival. Several other endangered species such as Lion tailed Macaque lives in the project area. The cane turtle, which is an endemic and endangered species, is seen nowhere in the world, except in the project area. Allowing the dam will be equivalent to throwing them into the palms of extinction. Further the entire project falls under migratory routes of elephants.

ATHIRAPPILLY WATER FALLS

The Adar tribes, which is the most primitive South Indian forest tribe lives here. There population is a mere 1500.  They are primitive hunting and gathering tribe originally restricted to the forest and hill tracts of Chalakudy river basin. The proposed dam will lead to their displacement from their homeland. Given these factors, Madav Gadgil panel has strongly recommended that the permission for Athirappilly dam should not be given.

WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

Gadgil report put forward a "DEVELOP SUSTAINABLY, PROTECT NATURE" sort of recommendations. As per the current norms of environmental protection acts enacted in India, it was the common people suffered the most. Of course they were for the good but most of the time the ideas were misused. Farmers and cultivators were forced to pay bribes to the officers in order to get sanction for even their smallest need.  Tribals, who were the natural inhabitants of the ghats were denied their rights. They were not even permitted to continue honey and herb collection. But at the same time big pockets and people with political hold still enjoyed unrestricted access to scarce resources. Resorts and hill stations were allowed but at the same time farmers were not allowed to increase the size of their holdings.

Gadgil panel therefore suggested setting up of autonomous statutory authority WGEA to ensure the protection of Western Ghats. By this, the will be given the power to take decisions about problems related with Western Ghat. But the government fear that such distribution of power will take away their decision making power. Therefore the states are against creating WGEA and argues that the present regulatory systems are enough for the protection of Western Ghats, which we all know, is a big lie.