Western Ghats Calling: December 2013

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Chugging along the wrong track

The din of controversy around the Kasturirangan Committee and the Gadgil Panel reports on protecting the Western Ghats notwithstanding, the recent visit by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to the contentious corridor of the proposed 167-km long Hubli-Ankola railway link in the region, has stirred up hornet’s nest yet again.

In their petition to the CEC, environmentalists have argued that the proposed rail link will clear-fell 727 hectares of pristine forests and ancillary developments along the track will impact an additional 3,000 ha of virgin forests and wetlands. That the proposed rail line will pass through the tiger reserve area has already been highlighted in the impact study by the Indian Institute of Science.

Since Mallikarjun M Kharge from Karnataka became the Union minister for railways, vested interests have worked overtime to reopen the case for getting the pending environmental clearance for the Kalghatagi-Ankola stretch of 122 km on the proposed line. The project requires not just environmental clearance but also an additional `3,000 crore.

Not only has the cost of the project escalated three times since it was approved by the Railway Board in 2001, lack of funds has prompted the state government to suggest that the project be taken up through a public-private partnership. No wonder environmentalists have argued that the project is a cover for providing easy access for the Hospet-Bellary mining belt to the port at Tadari.

CEC members are apprised of the fact that the Western Ghats (through which the proposed railway line will pass) has been declared as a World Heritage area by UNESCO. Led by Pandurang Hegde, a group of environmentalists apprised the committee that compensatory afforestation can only be a poor substitute for any stretch of the tropical forests.

The group further informed the committee of its experience with the high voltage power lines passing through the forests in the region. On paper, the transmission corridor had sought a clearance of just three meter width through the forests whereas in reality it accounted for no less than a 56 meter width. The irreversible forest destruction was several times more. However, batting for the project the state government considers the railway line important for linking the hinterland to the coastal region. In reality, however, there exists excellent road connections from Hubli to Ankola built with the help of the Asian Development Bank.

It is shocking that despite being a signatory to the UN Convention on biological diversity, the destruction of 727 hectares of biodiverse tropical forests is considered of little consequence....Link

(First published in Hindustan Times, December 19, 2013)

Save Western Ghats Movement (SWGM)

SWGM has an unpleasant history. Hailed by India Today as one of the finest post-independence environmental movement, the mid-1980s march along the pristine 'ghats' had to wither away on account of internal squabbling between the organizers. Between 2006 till 2008, Sudhirendar Sharma got an opportunity to travel across the region to capture the latent energy among diverse actors to reignite the past. Together with Pandurang Hegde, who carried the painful memories of the past, the Save Western Ghats Movement of the 80's was revived at Peaceful Society in Goa in 2009. Peaceful Society (led by Kalanand Mani) had played stellar role in anchoring the SWGM in 1988.

SWGM Conferences

Three important congregations of activists, researchers, scientists, artists, politicians and thinkers have been organised since 2009 under the aegis of Save Western Ghats Movement - an informal platform of civil society actors. While the first, in 2009 in Ponda (Goa) revived the erstwhile movement of the mid-80's, the second in Kotagiri (Tamilnadu) in 2010 was major milestone as it led to the setting-up of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. The third congregation at Moodbidri (Karnataka) in 2011 reiterated civil society commitment to conserve the ghats whatever be the outcome of the panel.

Sussegad

Sussegad, meaning `easygoing’, is often associated with the Goans but it does extend to other areas along the Western Ghats, notably hilly parts of Karnataka. Mellowed down by the warmth of the Sun, the coolness of the rains and the wisdom of the green hills, people in these parts of the Western Ghats are known for their simplicity and hospitality. Accommodating as they are, sussegad lends a distinct cultural identity to these people.

When the world elsewhere is racing against materialistic greed, sussegad provides the much desired calming effect. Gandhi used to say: `there is more to life than speed.’ People in the ghats seem to have imbibed that spirit from time immemorial. Being laid back and stealing siesta time during each afternoon may seem out of place for an average outsider but for people here it is an accepted practice that renders them inherent strength – of being in harmony with self, society and nature. It seems sussegad could be for the good of the entire society. Any takers!

Open House

By definition, activists are an interesting bunch of people with high octane levels. At the heart of activism lies the unflinching desire to bring the world on its feet. Unilaterally focussed, immensely committed and socially driven, activists have struggled to carve out a niche for themselves in the shrinking social space. Yet, they enjoy the patronage of the state and its cronies. Had there not been the state with its dubious designs, the breed called activists would not have existed? Wonder, who then is the real activist?

Do you agree with this notion?

All About Frogs

Pictorial Guide to Frogs and Toads of the Western Ghats has been published to help students, researchers, forest managers, photographers and general public in identifying a species in the field along with its status, ecology and distribution. Simultaneously it also aims at bringing awareness about amphibians among general public. This book covers 73 species of 156 frogs and toads recorded from the Western Ghats as of date. Written by Dr. KV Gururaja, the book is available through: http://shop.gubbilabs.in.