Major Biodiversity Conference in Mangaluru Issues Urgent Demands for River Protection
A significant biodiversity conservation conference, held recently on the banks of the Kumaradhara River at Urumbi in Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, has put forward a series of strong demands aimed at safeguarding river ecosystems and stopping environmentally harmful projects across the Western Ghats region.
Collaborative Efforts and Celebratory Atmosphere
Organised jointly by the Kumaradhara Environment Protection Committee, Save Western Ghats Movement, and Vruksha Laksha Movement, the event brought together a diverse group of environmentalists, scientists, activists, and local communities. The programme, which included traditional rituals like river puja and aarati, transformed into a celebratory gathering following the state government's decision to drop proposed private hydropower projects on the Kumaradhara River. This victory came after sustained opposition spanning over 14 years, highlighting the power of persistent advocacy.
Solidarity and Opposition to Damaging Projects
The conference expressed solidarity with conservation movements in the Sharavathi and Bedthi-Aghanashini river basins, urging the government to abandon related projects that threaten these vital waterways. It strongly opposed ongoing preparations to construct dams across the Gundya and Addahole streams, which are intended to divert water to the Yettinahole project. Participants warned that such moves would jeopardise the livelihoods of lakhs of people who depend on the Gundya, Kumaradhara, and Nethravati river systems for their sustenance and economic activities.
Elected representatives from Dakshina Kannada were called upon to take a firm stand against further river diversion projects, emphasising the need for political will in environmental protection.
Demands for Scientific Study and Implementation
Labeling the Yettinahole river diversion scheme as a failed project, as previously highlighted by scientists, the meeting demanded an independent scientific study of the region. This should be followed by a high-level consultation involving experts and environmental activists at Subrahmanya to ensure informed decision-making.
The conference also pressed for the implementation of biodiversity protection measures at Urumbi, which was declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site in 2021. It sought the installation of official signage and protective measures by the forest department to enforce this status effectively.
Addressing Local Ecological Concerns
Highlighting pressing local issues, the meeting called for consultations on sustainable management of fish habitats in the Todikana, Shishila, and Dharmasthala regions. Additionally, it demanded strict action against illegal sand mining along the Kumaradhara riverbanks, which poses a significant threat to river health and stability.
Strengthening Grassroots Conservation Efforts
To bolster grassroots conservation, the conference resolved to organise annual river puja and aarati every April and undertake mass sapling plantation drives on June 5 through Panchayat Biodiversity Committees. These initiatives aim to foster community engagement and long-term environmental stewardship.
The gathering also lauded the sustained, non-violent people's movement led by local communities, which played a crucial role in safeguarding the Kumaradhara River, serving as an inspiring model for conservation efforts elsewhere.
Broader Policy Recommendations
At a broader level, the conference urged the state government to undertake a comprehensive study on the ecological carrying capacity of river basins in the Western Ghats. It also demanded that a high-level meeting of legislators, MPs, and environmental experts be convened in Mangaluru under the assembly speaker to deliberate on critical river conservation issues, ensuring a coordinated approach to policy-making.
Prominent Participants
Prominent participants included former chairman of the Karnataka Biodiversity Board Ananth Hegde Ashisara, scientist TV Ramachandra, seers, scientists, biodiversity officials, environmentalists, and representatives from various districts, underscoring the wide-ranging support for these conservation initiatives.
