'Reject project proposals which seek to divert, exploit forest lands, fresh water sources in Western Ghats'

Counterview Desk

Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, in a representation has reminded Eshwar Khandre Minister for forests, environment and ecology, Govt. of Karnataka, that International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed Western Ghats as key freshwater biodiversity hotspot. Excerpt:

***

A recent study report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reiterated mwhat many other science based credible govt. agencies have been highlighting for decades; that Western Ghats in the state is a Key Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspot. The MoEF&CC itself has called Western Ghats as the fresh water fountain of the peninsular India. The associated implications for the state of Karnataka should become evidently clear, if we continue to ignore the critical importance of adequately protecting Western Ghats for the true welfare of our people.

"The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. By harnessing the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of some 17,000 experts, IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

"The IUCN's first multi-taxon global freshwater fauna assessment has identified India’s Western Ghats as a key hotspot for threatened freshwater species.

"The study pinpoints pollution, dam construction, water extraction, invasive species, and agricultural practices as primary threats to freshwater biodiversity in the Western Ghats. The iconic Humpbacked Mahseer, a critically endangered fish species weighing up to 60 kg, is among the species under threat in this region. The findings stress the need for urgent conservation measures to prevent further species losses and preserve freshwater ecosystems."

Other highlights of this study report are:

Significance of the Western Ghats

- The Western Ghats harbors over 300 freshwater fish species, making it one of the richest regions in freshwater biodiversity.

- The region has two endemic families of freshwater fishes, found exclusively in groundwater and subterranean systems.

- Kerala has the highest number of threatened freshwater fishes in India, with 74 out of 188 species listed as threatened.

- The Periyar River in Kerala is a critical conservation priority due to its high concentration of endemic and threatened species.

- The Humpbacked Mahseer, a critically endangered megafish, is an iconic species found in the Western Ghats.

Mitigation Efforts

- The study emphasizes the need for urgent conservation measures to prevent further species loss.

- Conservation strategies must address pollution, dam construction, overharvesting, and climate change impacts.

- There is a call to recognize freshwater ecosystems as distinct environments requiring separate management strategies from terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Can the people of the state hope that a multitude of such credible science based reports will awaken the concerned authorities, at least now before it is too late, including the ministers, to the existential threats to our people, from the ongoing over-exploitation of the biodiversity wealth of the Western Ghats? The ongoing societal level agitations in the state against two pumped storage project proposals across rivers Sharavathi and Varahi, and more than 20 linear project proposals in the Western Ghats of the state, which are threatening about 20 lakh mature trees, must be diligently reviewed from this perspective.

The recent decision of the state Wildlife Board to endorse a project proposal to build a 2,000 MW pumped storage project in the Sharavathi LTM Sanctuary, in a biodiversity rich river valley, and with a potential to destroy about 350 acres of natural forest land will be a sort of death knell to this Key Freshwater Biodiversity Hotspot, and will pose existential threat to the legitimate rights of the people who have been living on the banks of this river, downstream of Gerusoppa dam, for hundreds of years.

I would like to reiterate a question, as has been raised repeatedly by various civil society groups in the state: whether the people in the state can hope to witness a sense of responsibility/ accountability, and the much needed wisdom among our authorities, not to destroy the right to existence of our people, through such high impact and destructive project in the Western Ghats of the state.

In this larger context, the environmentalists in the state can be seen as relieved by the latest news that the Union govt. has declined the approval to build a massive dam across river Kavery heavily impacting the Kavery Wildlife Sanctuary, and which had the potential to destroy about 11,000 acres of natural forest lands.

Once again, I urge the state govt. through you to reject all such high impact project proposals, which seek to divert/ exploit forest lands and fresh water sources in the Western Ghats. Instead, the benign and much less costly options to achieve the overall development of the state on a sustainable basis, as have been advocated by various civil society groups in recent years, must be effectively deployed.

My earlier representations in this context may please be taken serious cognisance of.

Comments

Former civil servants raise alarm over conflict of interest in Supreme Court's forest advisory panel

By A Representative In a strongly worded open letter to the Chief Justice of India, 60 retired senior civil servants from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), and other central services have raised serious concerns over what they term a “conflict of interest” in the current composition of the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), tasked with advising the Court in forest and environmental matters. The signatories, all part of the Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), expressed grave apprehension that the CEC—now comprising entirely of recently retired officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)—may lack impartiality in ongoing litigation, particularly those challenging the Forest Conservation Amendment Act (FCAA), 2023.

Prof. Vidyut Joshi: Gujarat’s knowledge institutions have lost their soul, urgent reorientation needed

By A Representative In a thought-provoking column published in Sandesh , eminent sociologist and former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vidyut Joshi has raised urgent concerns over the erosion of intellectual autonomy and social relevance in Gujarat’s leading research and academic institutions. Building on insights from the recent paper Secret of Creating High Performing Knowledge Institutions by development economist Prof. Tushaar Shah, Joshi paints a stark picture of institutions that have strayed far from their foundational vision.

Remembering Vasant and Rajab: The forgotten martyrs who died to protect India’s soul from communal hatred

By Hidayat Parmar How much do we truly know about the real history of Ahmedabad, Gujarat’s royal city? July 1st marks a date that shines a light on two of its noblest sons—Vasant and Rajab—whose legacy lives on as a powerful reminder of secular unity and fearless sacrifice.

Top civil rights leader announces plan to lead delegation to Pakistan amidst post-war tensions

By A Representative In a significant move, well-known academic and civil rights leader Sandeep Pandey has announced the plan to send a 22-member delegation to Pakistan to engage in dialogue with its government and civil society. The delegation proposed to go to Pakistan under the banner of Socialist Party (India) as a fact-finding mission to help seek solution to continuing tensions between the two countries over the fallout of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Global recognition at UNHRC: A breakthrough for communities discriminated on work and descent

By Amit Kumar, Naveen Gautam* In a historic moment for global human rights, the 59th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened with a powerful acknowledgment of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD)—groups affected by caste-like systems of exclusion, marginalization, and inherited inequality. This recognition was delivered by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk during his global human rights update, signaling a major shift in international discourse.

Climate action in rural India can go hand in hand with sustainable livelihoods: NGO shows the way

By Bharat Dogra Mobilizing an adequate response to climate change is often seen as an expensive task and then there is a lot of talk about who’ll bear the burden. However in rural areas both climate mitigation and adaptation can be integrated well with the promotion of sustainable rural livelihoods and in such conditions people become very supportive towards it. In such conditions climate response can progress much more smoothly without becoming burdensome.

J&K's Mallabuchan villagers symbolically cut Off pipeline in protest against ‘water injustice’

By A Representative In a striking act of peaceful protest, residents of Mallabuchan village in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district symbolically disconnected the Ahmadpora-Tangmarg water pipeline on Thursday, denouncing decades of official neglect and violation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) norms.

Organic food stakeholders oppose FSSAI's proposed regulatory changes, warn against undermining small farmers, safe food movement

By A Representative Over 130 signatories representing India’s organic farming community have submitted a strongly worded letter to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), objecting to key proposals discussed at a hybrid meeting held by the authority on May 7, 2025. The meeting, convened to review the Food Safety and Standards (Organic Foods) Regulations 2017, reportedly considered drastic amendments that stakeholders claim will harm small producers and the broader movement for agroecological food systems.

Few Bollywood actors possessed Sanjeev Kumar's subtle detachment and sensitivity

By Harsh Thakor On 9th July, we celebrated the 85th birthday of legendary Hindi film actor, Sanjeev Kumar., known as Haribhai Jariwala. Sanjeev Kumar penetrated zones of versatility or acting craft, almost unparalleled in Hindi cinema. He was one one the very few who touched horizons of true genius, transcending regions in acting virtually unexplored. Rarely did any artist get stuck as thickly into the skin of the character. The diversity of expressions in his moves reminded one of the different water colours of a painting. Sanjeev manifested the ventures of an artist to tap the regions unexplored. He simply defied all conventions of Bollywood, making path breaking experiments. His acting had a subtle degree detachment and sensitivity, which few Bollywood actors ever possessed. He may not have possessed the drop dead looks of a Dev Anand, Dharmendra or Sashi Kapoor or the professionalism or star charisma of an Amitabh Bachan, Rajesh Khanna or Shah Rukh Khan. However in pure acting...

Search This Blog