Date:07/11/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/07/stories/2009110750010200.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Greens seek measures to protect the Western Ghats

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: Environmental and social activists in the State have urged the government to take immediate steps to protect the precious Western Ghats region.

A meeting of the activists held here recently urged the authorities to stop all projects that would cause harm to the green cover in the ecologically sensitive area. The environmental and social groups have also asked the government to come up with a programme to protect the entire region.

The meeting decided to come up with proposals that would help in rejuvenating the Western Ghats.

Greens will soon meet Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan to present their recommendations.

They have also urged the government to de-commission the Mullaperiyar dam. Urging the authorities to come up with alternative suggestions on the issue, the meeting suggested that the water level should be brought down from 136 feet to ensure the safety of lakhs of people downstream.

Forest land

The activists also expressed concern over the growing incidents of encroachment of forest land in the name of ensuring the rights of the Adivasis in the State.

They said that concerted efforts were on to sabotage legal provisions that checked forest encroachment.

The meeting also condemned the move to construct new roads and dams in the Pooyamkutty forest region.

It pointed out that projects, which were set up by clearing forest land, were not feasible in the region. The environmentalists also referred to the dwindling forest cover in the State.

Reacting to the Thekkady boat accident, the activists alleged that unchecked efforts by the Tourism Department and the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation to commercialise the forest land in the region had led to the tragic incident.

They called for immediate steps to regulate the activities of the corporation and other agencies in the Thekkady region.

The environmental and social groups have decided to prepare a status report on the forest land in the State. It will also conduct studies on various other ecological issues in various parts.