Former MLA A T Ramaswamy Sounds Alarm on Western Ghats Destruction, Urges Public Mobilization
Former MLA and state president of the environmental organization Parisarakkaagi Naavu (We for Environment), A T Ramaswamy, has issued a stark warning about the ongoing devastation of the Western Ghats. He asserts that politicians, officials, and contractors are systematically eroding this critical ecosystem under the guise of development, and he stresses the urgent necessity of a widespread public movement to counteract this destruction.
Seminar Inauguration Highlights Environmental Crisis
Ramaswamy delivered these remarks on Saturday while inaugurating a seminar titled Western Ghats – Madhav Gadgil and Our Responsibility at the Raa Ha Deshpande Auditorium of Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha in Dharwad. He emphasized that raising a powerful voice against the degradation of the ghats is now unavoidable to secure clean air, pure water, and uncontaminated food for future generations. According to Ramaswamy, safeguarding the Western Ghats represents the most genuine tribute to the legacy of renowned environmental expert Madhav Gadgil.
Concerns Over Educated Contributors to Environmental Harm
Expressing deep concern, Ramaswamy noted that environmental destruction is increasingly driven by the educated and literate segments of society, transforming what was once a paradisiacal region into a state of disrepair. He highlighted alarming pollution statistics, pointing out that 22 of the world's 30 most-polluted cities are located in India. Metropolitan areas are deteriorating rapidly due to excessive pollution levels, with Bengaluru serving as a poignant example. Once celebrated as the Garden City, Bengaluru has now degenerated into a dilapidated urban center. Ramaswamy cited a report from the Indian Institute of Science, which indicates that only about 3% of green cover remains in Bengaluru today.
Activist Keshav Korse Expands on Western Ghats Significance
Environmental activist Keshav Korse elaborated on the broader importance of the Western Ghats, clarifying that they extend beyond the districts of Uttara Kannada or Dakshina Kannada alone. He described the ghats as the source of all major rivers flowing in the state and identified them as one of the planet's rarest biodiversity hotspots. Korse called upon residents from Malenadu, Bayaluseeme, and all other regions to unite and initiate a mass movement dedicated to protecting this invaluable natural resource.
Specific Projects Threatening the Western Ghats
Korse detailed several projects that pose significant threats to the Western Ghats, including:
- The Goa-Belagavi rail doubling project
- Diversion of the Bedthi River
- The Hubballi-Ankola railway line
- Diversion of the Aghanashini River
- The Sharavathi hydel project
- Large-scale encroachments
He lamented that such initiatives are inflicting severe damage on the ghats, exacerbating the environmental crisis. The collective call from both Ramaswamy and Korse underscores the critical need for immediate and concerted public action to preserve the Western Ghats for posterity.
