Save Silent Valley Movement & Save Western Ghats Movement

Save Silent Valley Movement & Save Western Ghats Movement

1. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA AECC(EVS) PRESENTATION THE SILENT VALLEY MOVEMENT SAVE WESTERN GHAT MOVEMENT GROUP MEMBERS &

2. GEOGRAPHY OF SILENT VALLEY THE SILENT VALLEY MOVEMENT • The Silent Valley is situated in the Palakkad district of Kerala. • The region is locally known as "Sairandhrivanam". • Silent valley entails an evergreen tropical forest. •It is home to the largest population of lion-tailed macaque .  •Kunthipuzha is a major river that flows in the Silent Valley

3. SILENT VALLEY HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT •In 1931, British Engineer S. Dowson proposed the idea of this dam for the first time. •In 1951, The Government of India conducted a survey to check the feasibility of the Silent Valley hydroelectric project. •Foreign scientists like Steven Green and Romulus Whitaker alerted about the ecological importance of Silent Valley. They further showed concern about the nearly extinct species of the macaques . When its implementation was set in motion in 1976, several NGOs strongly opposed the project and urged the government to abandon it. Conservationists argued that: The entire lower valley will be submerged by the dam, destroying its biodiversity. The 10 percent loss projected by the government will actually be far worse. The workforce brought in for the construction of the project will reside in the area for several years and the destruction they cause – illegal wood felling, cattle grazing, poaching, encroaching – will destroy the Valley. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

4. TIMELINE OF THE MOVEMENT • In 1973, the Planning Commission formally approved the Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project. The movement started in 1973 to protect reserve forest from being affected by a hydroelectric project. Kerala State Electricity Board had to slacken the work on the project due to construction of Idukki hydroelectric project . •In 1977, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) adopted a resolution opposing the implementation of the SVHP. • In April 1976 - National Council for Environmental Planning studied the feasibility of the hydroelectric project. The task force suggested that the project should be abandoned and the valley be declared a biosphere reserved area. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA In the same year, an expert team from Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) studied and submitted a report strongly urging to abandon the project. This was followed by large scale participation and mobilization from amongst the common people, who dissented the building of the dam.

5. 5 The KSSP emphasized that the Silent valley was among the last few tropical evergreen forests remaining in the Western Ghats. The dam would’ve submerged and fragmented the rainforests of the Silent Valley. The project was even more unjustified since 40% of Kerala’s power generation was being exported to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The project would’ve produced merely 7% of power produced in the state. D’Monte and Steven Green, in their book, pointed out that the existence of this second-most threatened primate, mostly found at the southernmost tip of Western Ghats was furthered by this project. Threat to their continued existence became a ‘cause celebre ’ and he was indirectly able to focus international attention to the controversy. The then agricultural secretary, M.S Swaminathan said “The flora and fauna of this area are quite unique and 23 mammalian species including three endangered species- the tiger, lion-tailed macaque and the Nilgiri Langur-have been recorded” WHAT CHALLENGES DID THE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT POSE? Reduction of remaining forest patches Insufficient power production Threat to the critically endangered lion-tailed macaque Loss of flora & fauna unique to the valley It is accounting to the project being put to a halt that the Kunthi river flows all through the year today, even during the worst summers. It has no dam obstructing its pathway. Obstruction of the flow of Kunthipuzha river

6. RESOLUTION BY IUCN

7. ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT  This report too emphasized the ecological significance of the Silent Valley

8. 8 PEOPLE’S PARTICIPATION AND MOBILIZATION

9. CURRENT STATUS

10. 10 SAVE WESTERN  GHATS MOVEMENT

11. 11 LOCATION WESTERN GHATS

12. 12 INTRODUCTION Western Ghats is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 km 2   Parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, traversing the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Starts near the Songadh town of Gujarat, south of the Tapti river, ending at Swamithope near the southern tip of India in Tamil Nadu. Biologically rich and bio geographically unique  UNESCO World Heritage Site  Houses 30% of all species of flora & fauna in India.  Rare, endemic species which are protected through several nationally significant wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves, and national parks.  Home to four tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregions – the North Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, North Western Ghats montane rain forests, South Western Ghats moist deciduous forests, and South Western Ghats montane rain forests  Numerous medicinal plants and important genetic resources  INTRODUCTION

13. 13 IMPORTANCE OF WESTERN GHATS                                  A total of thirty-nine areas in the Western Ghats designated as world heritage sites  Influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the southwest for the summer season Complex network of 22 rivers that provides nearly 40 percent of India’s water-catchment systems. Perform important hydrological and watershed functions. Provides water to 245 million people living in the peninsular Indian states from rivers originating in the Western Ghats. The major river systems originating in the Western Ghats are the Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna, Thamirabarani and Tungabhadra rivers. Thus, the soil and water of this region sustain the livelihoods of millions of people.  It neutralizes no less than 4 million tonnes of carbon, equivalent to 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The diverse forests ecosystems in the region neutralize 10 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions neutralized by the country’s forests. Habitat to medicinal plants and important genetic resources such as the wild relatives of grains, fruits and spices • Home to diverse social, religious, and linguistic groups.

14. 14 ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES TO WESTERN GHATS Unregulated mining is ravaging large parts Continuous construction activity Number of rivers have been dammed, resulting in the loss of riverine ecosystems and the submergence of pristine forests

15. 15 A rapidly growing network of roads and rail lines is fragmenting forests; There’s habitat loss due to urbanisation; agriculture, plantations and the introduction of exotics is leading to a rise in human-wildlife conflict; and tribal communities continue to be marginalised with the loss of access to resources and livelihoods. The pressure of increasing population on land and vegetation and undesirable agricultural practices etc. 

16. 16 The SAVE WESTERN GHATS MOVEMENT  has been founded on the principle of a people’s movement for environmental regeneration and people’s rights and livelihoods in the Western Ghats.  The movement derives from local people, who have been fully exposed to the harmful effects of deforestation, and their need to protect their environment. The famous Save Western Ghats March started more than 25 years ago in 1986 . as one of the pioneering civil society movements to redefine, question and build up a grassroots up swell for conservation, protection of natural resources and people’s local livelihoods. BACKGROUND OF THE MOVEMENT

17. 17 KEY OBJECTIVES The key objectives of the March. To generate awareness among the people about ecology and related issues like denudation of forests, afforestation, preservation of wildlife, natural resources etc. To learn about the nature and extent of ecological destruction of the Western Ghats. To expose the concerned authorities and government to the field situations so that they could view the problems from the ground reality To bring together all voluntary organizations working in the region, to formulate some long –term common ecological programmes to save the western ghats from ecological destruction

18. Kumar Kalanand Mani-Central Coordinator of Save the Western Ghats March Pandurang Hegde Noted Gandhian and Historian Shri Dharmpal National Advisory  Committee was led by Prof.  Kailash Chandra Malhotra Dr. Anil Agrawal, CSE Thomas Mathew,WWF   Founder leaders of Chipko Movement Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt.  PROMINENT LEADERS PARTICIPATION AND MOBILIZATION Peaceful Society, a Gandhian voluntary organization was responsible for organising the  dream environmental March in 1987 with the participation of people from every sections and active involvement of more than 150 organisations including Central Organisation Committee (COC), National Advisory Committee (NAC),Regional Coordination Committee (RAC) etc. Total 169 men and women from 11 states and 4 countries were part of the March

19. 19 The Save the Western Ghats Movement began in 1986 along with foot march organised  in 1987-88 with the participation of people from every sections and various organisations. Involved over 20 local and regional people’s movements for an awareness-building protest against the construction that destroy one of the world’s richest habitats. Prominent environmental activists brought out the important role played by Western Ghats in India’s environment and highlighted its ongoing degradations.  Many other movements took place under this banner to influence government policy  The foot march along the Western Ghats was divided into 2 parts up to Goa border- starting from two extreme ends on Nov. 1st, 1987.  Northern March- from Navapur in Dhule District of Maharashtra flagged off by founder leader of Chipko movement -Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt  Southern March- from Kanyakumari in Tamil nadu flagged off by noted historian Shri Dharampal  The March converged into Save the Western Ghats Conference where experiences were shared along with discussion about the direction of saving the Western Ghats.  3rd conference in February 2009 concluded with a proposal – to constitute a study team The minister of Environment and Forests responded by forming  Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by Dr. Madhav Gadgil, environmental scientist.  THE MARCH

20. WESTERN GHATS ECOLOGY EXPERT PANEL(WGEEP) RECOMMENDATIONS Entire hill range- Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). Classified the Western Ghats area into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) 1, 2, and 3. ESZ-1 being of high priority- almost all developmental activities were restricted. Bottom to top approach rather than a top to bottom approach & decentralization and more powers to local authorities. Constitution of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA), as a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the powers under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. 20 More environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities. Recommendations impractical to implement. Complete eco-sensitive cover for the Western Ghats hampering energy and development fronts. Criticism against the constitution of a new body called WGEA. States insist that protection can be given under existing laws. Doesn’t give a solution for revenue losses due to the implementation of its recommendations. Against dams in the Western Ghats, which is a crucial for power sector. Considering the growing energy needs of India. CRITICISMS Madhav Gadgil Committee Report The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), also known as the Gadgil Commission formed in 2010 submitted the report to the  Government of India on 31 August 2011.  This report by WGEEP to the Govt. Of India was taken negatively. The government refused to accept the report and formed another committee.

21. Only 37% (i.e. 60,000 sq. km.) of the total area be brought under ESA under Kasturirangan report. A complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESA. Distinguished between cultural (58% occupied in the Western Ghats by it like human settlements, agricultural fields and plantations) and natural landscape (90% of it should come under ESA according to the committee). Current mining areas in the ESA should be phased out within the next five years, or at the time of expiry of mining lease, whichever is earlier. No thermal power be allowed and hydropower projects are allowed only after detailed study. Red industries i.e. which are highly polluting be strictly banned in these areas. Made several pro-farmer recommendations, including the exclusion of inhabited regions and plantations from the purview of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs). The Kasturirangan report had said 123 villages fall under the ESA purview. 21   remote sensing and aerial survey methods for zonal demarcation of land without examining the ground reality, causing many errors in the report. The power is vested with the bureaucrats and forest officials and not with gram sabhas. farmers feared eviction if the Kasturirangan Committee report is implemented. Under this report, the mining and quarrying lobbies are expected to flourish causing water shortageand pollution leading farmers to quit the area.  The use of “erroneous method” had caused inclusion of many villages under Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA)  Kasturirangan report included ecologically non-sensitive areas under ESA, and left out many ecologically sensitive areas! RECOMMENDATIONS CRITICISMS Kasturirangan committee on the Western Ghats The Kasturirangan committee was constituted to examine the WGEEP report. The committee is often called high-level working group (HLWG), headed by Kasturirangan submitted in april 2013

22. 22 COMPARISON BETWEEN GADGIL AND KASTHURIRANGAN  REPORT COMPARISON BETWEEN GADGIL AND KASTHURIRANGAN  REPORT GADGIL KASTHURIRANGAN V/S

23. 23 The Gadgil report- importance to the environment, and Kasturirangan report- biased towards development.  Gadgil report marked out 60 percent of the Western Ghats as the highest-priority Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ -1) whereas Kasturirangan report marks only 37 percent area as ESA.  Gadgil’s report proposed to declare this entire landscape as ESA, creating three ESZs within it. Gadgil committee prescribed no mining within ESZ- 1, continuation of existing mines in ESZ-2 and new mines in ESZ-3 The Kasturirangan panel  marked 37 percent of the stretch as ESA. In effect, the restriction level of Kasturirangan’s ESA corresponds to that of Gadgil’s ESZ-1. The Gadgil panel had recommended a national-level authority, with counterparts at the state and district levels.  The Kasturirangan panel argued for strengthening the existing framework of environmental clearances and setting up of a state-of-the-art monitoring agency. ESA ESZ- 1 ESZ- 1 ESZ- 1 KASTHURIRANGAN GADGIL

24. Ministry of Environment had enough reports ( Gadgil and Kasturirangan ; Ooman committee was state-level), but still, they didn’t take any action.  In 2013 going with the recommendations of Kasturirangan committee, the Ministry decided to declare the ESA over 37% of the Western Ghats under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. however there was opposition from people due to the fear of indirect eviction for illegal mining  The MoEF came out with the order, and according to directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, bars mining in ecologically fragile areas (EFA not to be confused with ESA), setting up of thermal plants and restricts buildings to less than 20,000 sq ft in 123 villages mentioned in the K. Kasturirangan report of the state. CURRENT STATUS 24

25. ​ As Kerala faces its worst floods in several decades, Madhav Gadgil responded by saying that Kerala Floods are partly man-made and the scale of the disaster would have been smaller had the state government and local authorities followed environmental laws, proving the rejection of Gadgil report to be a costly error for people and environment. Development in the State in the last several years had materially compromised its ability to deal with a disaster of this proportion.​ Tremendous pressure from a growing human population deforestation unsustainable extraction of resources resulting in alteration in rainfall patterns and the new monsoon trend has had a devastating effect on the ecology as Kerala witnessed in 2018, 2019 and 2020 in form of floods. Scientific studies clearly show that the frequency of extreme events such as very intense rainfall is to be seen as a warning signs The monsoon pattern is changing for western parts and parts of Central India. The total monsoon is decreasing gradually over period of time while the frequency and magnitude of extreme rain events are going up leading to more dry periods or droughts in the central india  with extreme rainfall events in south​ KERELA FLOODS ​

26. PROTECTING THE GHATS Over the years, the country’s central government has enacted various laws that are applicable to the Western Ghats such as the Environment Protection Act 1986, the Forest Conservation Act 1980, the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2002. However, these laws are not implemented efficiently India’s water laws are inadequate. Existing legislation primarily focuses on pollution control, meaning the law has little to say about preventing or even managing floods which result from mismanagement of dams or too much riverside development. Some of the major floods in the past couple of years happened after dams at or near full capacity in one district or state were opened, letting water flow downstream into another area.  To protect the Western Ghats, what we require is an attitude that recognises the significance of these mountains and that will involve specific laws.

27. The Western Ghats States need to reconsider their stand in view of the recent calamity. A different governance regime, as suggested by the Gadgil panel, may be required to administer the Western Ghats. Indeed, the challenge is to set up decentralized, participatory institutions to manage hilly regions and river basins. The Centre should urge the States to accept the best in both the reports. It should not entertain any further reduction of ecologically sensitive areas there is a need to respect the hydrological and remediation capability of natural drains that aid in infiltration and groundwater recharge. River origins, myristica swamps, sacred groves should be declared as heritage sites and protected THE WAY AHEAD

28. BIBLIOGRAPHY https://www.conservationindia.org/case-studies/silent-valley-a-peoples-movement-that-saved-a-forest https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/20091228-1976-silent-valley-movement-the-genesis-of-green-741606-2009-12-24 http://pune.gen.in/india/silent-valley-movement/3186/ https://www.divahspriklawnotes.com/single-post/what-is-save-silent-valley-movement https://peacefulsociety.org/the-western-ghats-save-the-western-ghats-movement/#:~:text=The%20Save%20the%20Western%20Ghats,of%20more%20than%20150%20organisations . https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/a-mountain-and-a-movement/article19325463.ece http://www.ipsnews.net/2008/02/environment-india-call-to-save-major-biodiversity-hotspot/ https://www.clearias.com/gadgil-report-kasturirangan-report-western-ghats/ https://scroll.in/article/936999/rampant-deforestation-in-the-western-ghats-is-causing-recurring-floods-in-southern-india