led a committee of scientists in a 6 year long research to identify and quantify the different kinds of ecological and structural damage inflicted upon the western ghats due to mans activities as well as to suggest ways to reduce or reverse such damage.
The voluminous report he submitted has been extensively peer reviewed and critically acclaimed by environment scientists worldwide. The Union MOEF accepted his report, tabled it in Parliament and the Union cabinet recommended its implementation in toto in each of the western ghat states.
However, in a stunning sequence of developments, the BJP, the Congress, the Shiv Sena, the JD (S), the DMK, the AIADMK and a range of smaller parties of these states joined in a remarkable show of solidarity in vehemently opposing the implementation of the reports recommendations !!!
Most spectacular has been the unanimity between the BJP and the Congress in ensuring that the iron ore mafia and the rock quarry mafia and the forest land encroachment mafia are not prevented in any way from carrying on their activities full scale !
The by now legendary V S Achuthanandan, erstwhile marxist chief minister of Kerala, sought to implement the Gadgil recommendations in toto by beginning a determined series of destruction of unauthorised structures in the western ghat districts of Idukki and Pathanamthitta and also by enacting a *Wetland protection Act* with very stringent provisions that ensured that not a single square inch of paddy field or pond or stream could be filled up for construction activities. V S was so determined to reverse all the damage wrought on the hills in Kerala that he even positioned himself on the Munnar mountain, personally supervising the demolition of a large number of unauthorised structures that had been put up during Congress rule in the state !
And V S was so impartial and focussed in his mission that he had no hesitation in uprooting and destroying acres of tea plantation on land encroached by the - hold your breath - the TATA group !!
Alas, all his good work was undone by a determined opposition (Congress party) and the stuxpid middle class commoners who went about ridiculing his acts as destructive !!
And, once the Congress led UDF won back power in 2011 (by the thinnest of margins), the CM Oommen Chandy promptly diluted the wetland protection act !!
Re: Dr Madhav Gadgil
by Vishvaksenah on Aug 21, 2018 09:46 AM
I fully endorse the views expressed by Piri. The tragedy would have been worse, if an airport had come up in Aranmula. The need for an airport is totally unnecessary as Trivandrum airport is just 100 kilometres away.But no....few moneybags wanted it for some reason. Initially all parties including the BJP supported it; but then better reason seem to have prevailed and the project was shelved. Now there is a clamour for Sabarigiri international airport in a nearby region. I hope this project will not take off.
Whole India need to stand by Kerala and help them in whatever way possible for each and everyone. I have done my mite, your turn now. Let Rahul Gandhi, Owaisi, Mamta and all those are after Modi and the Government contribute their personal mite for the rebuilding of Kerala
Re: Flood and crisis caused by Centuries worst rainfall in Kerala
by R K on Aug 20, 2018 09:42 PM
Why to disturb them ? Let them lecture from their city born AC chairs against the Govt. Perhaps they are paid for this duty
