Beyond Environment Day: Voices across India highlight everyday ecological justice struggles

By A Representative

In the wake of Environment Day, a powerful collective of voices from across India came together under the banner of the National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ)—a pan-Indian initiative of the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM)—to spotlight grassroots environmental struggles and the failures of governments to uphold ecological and constitutional justice.

Held on June 6, the online press conference saw participation from impacted communities and activists across states including Chhattisgarh, Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Sikkim, Telangana, Odisha, and more. Moderated by veteran environmentalist Soumya Dutta, the session echoed a common message: State and central governments are complicit in enabling environmental destruction for corporate gain, while repressing people’s movements.

Alok Shukla, speaking from the frontline of the 12-year-long Hasdeo struggle in Chhattisgarh, condemned the approval of 40 coal blocks in the region. “Over 4 lakh hectares of forest are set to be destroyed. This is not just environmental devastation—it’s a blatant violation of Constitutional rights and Adivasi Gram Sabha decisions,” he said, calling for national solidarity against Adani’s coal ventures.

From Kashmir, Naseer Dar spoke of the ecological stress caused by unchecked tourism. “Fishing and livestock-based livelihoods in regions like Wular are under threat. The erratic climate and rainfall patterns are further affecting local communities,” he warned.

Vishvaja, a Chennai-based activist, slammed the narrative of ‘clean’ energy through Waste-to-Energy (WtE) projects. “In North Chennai, these projects deepen caste inequities, threaten wetlands, and pose serious health risks to the 10 lakh residents already burdened by over 40 polluting industries.”

Rajasthan and Haryana-based activists Kailash Meena and Neelam Ahluwalia decried illegal and legal mining destroying the 2-billion-year-old Aravalli range. “In districts like Charkhi Dadri, mining has decimated hills, poisoned water, and left people with respiratory and kidney illnesses,” said Meena. Ahluwalia highlighted the findings of a Citizens’ Report exposing blatant regulatory violations.

Rajkumar Sinha of Narmada Bachao Andolan criticized the cascading dam projects and proposed nuclear plants. “Fish populations are declining, affecting local livelihoods. Dams supposedly built for farmers are actually diverting water to industries, especially thermal power plants,” he said, calling for a basin-wide review.

Veteran activist Medha Patkar condemned the dilution of environmental and land laws. “Whether it’s sand mining, deforestation, or forced land acquisition, the state is aiding corporate loot. Workers in the informal sector, especially in construction, are facing the brunt of climate impacts,” she said.

From Sikkim, Malaymit Lepcha exposed the failings of the government in rehabilitating those affected by Teesta hydropower projects. “Why was the 2023 Sikkim flood not declared a national disaster? Why the rush to rebuild the Teesta III dam, despite known ecological hazards?” she asked.

Santosh Lalwani, activist from Pune, criticized riverfront projects, especially the Pune Riverfront Development, saying these obstruct natural river flows and ignore community-led urban ecological visions. He noted similar citizen-led oppositions in other cities.

Ravi Kanneganti from Telangana raised alarm over the Pharma City project threatening over 30,000 acres of land and demanded scrapping of a Navy radar station planned in Damagundam forest, approved without due consultations. He also warned against ethanol plants falsely promoted as clean biofuel solutions.

From Mumbai, Malaika flagged the dangers of the Versova-Dahisar Coastal Road Project, which threatens 51,000 mangroves. “This project endangers marine biodiversity and increases flood risks. It must be stopped,” she asserted.

Though Prafulla Samantara (Odisha) and Ebo Mili (Arunachal Pradesh) couldn’t speak due to connectivity issues, NACEJ expressed strong solidarity with Adivasi-led struggles against mining and hydroelectric projects in both states. The group also condemned Odisha government’s June 4 order banning 24 activists from entering Rayagada district, calling it a move to protect mining corporations.

In a strong concluding statement, NACEJ extended full solidarity with Palestine, condemning Israel’s genocide and the global complicity behind it. Citing climate activist Greta Thunberg, the alliance emphasized, “Genocide and ecocide are deeply intertwined. We must fight to end both.”

"This isn’t just about Environment Day," said NACEJ in a final statement. "These struggles are everyday realities for millions. The government’s greenwashing can’t hide its complicity in systemic ecological destruction.”

Comments

Land under siege: A silent crisis, desertification is threatening India’s future

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Desertification is emerging as one of the gravest environmental challenges of our time. Marked annually on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reminds us that the fate of our planet’s land—and the billions who depend on it—is hanging in the balance.

Hyderabad protest demands end to Operation Kagar as senior Maoist leaders killed in encounter

By Harsh Thakor* A protest was held on June 17 at Indira Park in Hyderabad by the Shanti Charchala Committee, calling for an end to Operation Kagar and the start of peace talks with Maoist groups. The event brought together representatives from several political parties and civil society organizations. Among those who addressed the gathering were CPI (ML) New Democracy Central Committee member Vemulapalli Venkatramayya, along with leaders from the Congress, BRS, CPI, CPM, Telangana Janasamithi, MCPI, SUCI, CPI ML, RSP, and VCK. The programme also featured performances by cultural groups such as CLC, HRF, TVV, Arunodaya, Praja Kala Mandali, and Praja Natya Mandali. Public figures including actors Narayana Murthy and Tudundebba Upendar and academics like Professor Anver Khan and Professor Vinayaka Reddy participated as speakers.

Madhya Pradesh village's inspiring example of how small budget effort conserves water amidst heat wave

By Bharat Dogra Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. However the situation can differ significantly in various villages depending on whether or not significant water conservation efforts have been made. In recent years I have visited several villages of good water conservation efforts where I noticed that even at the time of adverse weather conditions, people of these villages as well as farm and other animals feel important relief in terms of access to adequate water. Due to water and moisture conservation, conditions of farms and pastures is also much better. What is more, with the participation and involvement of people, even quite low budgets have been utilized well to achieve very useful and durable results.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Population explosion: India needs a clear-headed policy, data-driven governance, long-term planning

By N.S. Venkataraman* At the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as a special guest, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing two main reasons: India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its status as the most populous nation. While economic growth is undoubtedly a point of pride, the latter distinction—India’s population—raises an important question: should this be seen as a strength or a source of growing concern? India has not conducted a national census since 2011, leaving the current population figures largely speculative. Estimates place the population at around 1.4 billion, with projections reaching 1.8 billion by 2050. Despite modest declines in fertility and death rates, the annual population growth remains between 1.5% and 2%. The next census, scheduled for 2026, will provide a more accurate demographic picture, but until then, policymaking remains uninformed by crucial data. Over the past eleven years, the gov...

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Exploring 'Volokolamsk Highway': A tale of Soviet heroism and resilience

By Harsh Thakor* "Volokolamsk Highway" is a classical war novel by Alexander Bek, first published in Russian in 1944 and translated into English in 1958. Set during WWII on the Eastern Front, it describes critical battles fought by the Soviet Red Army against Nazi forces advancing toward Moscow in October 1941. Republished by Foreign Languages Press in 2023, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of Soviet soldiers' struggles to defeat fascism. It is recommended for those seeking insight into Soviet heroism during World War II.

Citizens demand judicial probe into Ahmedabad plane crash, cite neglect of intern doctors, victims' families

By A Representative A wide coalition of concerned citizens, academics, medical professionals, social activists, and public intellectuals has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of India demanding an urgent judicial inquiry into the recent tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 240 lives. The petition, coordinated by the Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), calls for a high-level judicial committee, headed by a retired High Court justice and comprising eminent citizens, to investigate the incident beyond the scope of the existing technical committee.

Irregularities in Modi-initiated NSDC raise questions about the future of Skill India

By Onkareshwar Pandey Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Skill India initiative was conceived as a bold national effort—to equip India’s vast young population with industry-ready skills and transform the country into the “skills capital of the world.” At the heart of this mission lies the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), a public-private partnership under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). But recent revelations of large-scale financial irregularities within NSDC threaten to undermine not just the institution, but the very promise of Skill India.

Search This Blog