Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Actionable points for the WGEA : Annexure-II: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing a process of comprehensive consultation, Annexure-III: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing an Information System : Annexure-IV: Western Ghats Expert Group: Time frame -

      08/01/2019
               1649.

Sub : Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part II : Actionable points for the WGEA : Annexure-II: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing a process of comprehensive consultation, Annexure-III: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing an Information System :
Annexure-IV: Western Ghats Expert Group: Time frame -
Ref :
Annexure-II: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing a process of comprehensive consultation, Annexure-III: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing an Information System :
Annexure-IV: Western Ghats Expert Group: Time frame -

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Annexure-II: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing a process of comprehensive consultation

One of the mandates of our Western Ghats Expert Group is ‚to make recommendations for the conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats Region following a comprehensive consultation process involving people and Governments of all the concerned States.‛

We would have to work out how to organize such a process of comprehensive consultation. It could involve: a) Discussions with people in the field in local languages, b) Brain-storming sessions involving a cross-section of actors, including Government representatives, in English, c) Correspondence, including Emails, and d) Web-based discussion forums.

During our first meeting on March 31, we should chalk out a strategy for this component of our work plan, assigning responsibilities amongst ourselves. To facilitate these consultations, we should immediately begin putting together a web-based database of individuals and institutions concerned with environmental issues pertinent to the Western Ghats. This should be an open process of inviting all interested individuals and institutions to register themselves.

The web-based discussion would need to be moderated; to this end we may take advantage of experience of people like Dr Aparna Watve who has serious interest in issues of the Western Ghats as well.

The database may include the following fields :

Database of individuals
First name
Last name
Preferred address for postal communication
Email
Telephone number(s)
Geographic areas of interest [to be selected from a drop-down list]
Thematic areas of interest [to be selected from a drop-down list]
Database of institutions
Name
Nature of organization [to be selected from a drop-down list]
Preferred address for postal communication
Email
Telephone numbers
Geographic areas of interest [to be selected from a drop-down list]
Thematic areas of interest [to be selected from a drop-down list]

Annexure-III: Western Ghats Expert Group: Organizing an Information System :

The mandate of our Western Ghats Expert Group includes two information-intensive items :

(i) To assess the current status of ecology of the Western Ghats region.

(ii) To demarcate areas within the Western Ghats Region which need to be notified as ecologically sensitive and to recommend for notification of such areas as ecologically sensitive zones under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. In doing so, the Panel shall review the existing reports such as the Mohan Ram Committee Report, Hon‟ble Supreme Court‟s decisions, Recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife and consult all concerned State Governments.

It is therefore important that we immediately begin organizing information pertinent to these themes. For this purpose, we ought to take full advantage of modern developments in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), including the Web2.0 technologies, such as wikis. Fortunately, we have amongst our members considerable experience and expertise in this area. Dr. Ganeshaiah has been leading the development of the IBIN (India Bioresources Information Network), and is associated with ATREE’s India Biodiversity Portal; Dr Sukumar heads CES, IISc which hosts the ENVironmental Information System *ENVIS+’s Sahyadri: Western Ghats Biodiversity Information System. So I would like to request Dr. Ganeshaiah to lead this effort.

In this context, it would be useful to incorporate in our Information System and upload on the web, many documents that may currently exist only as hard copies. Examples include the framework for an assessment of the ‘Carrying Capacity’ of Dakshina Kannada district, prepared by Dr. D.K.Subramaniam, or the initial project document and a ten-year assessment of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve prepared by me. We also need to identify and upload all pertinent Environmental Impact Assessment documents, beginning with that of Liquid Propulsion R&D unit (at Valiamalla) and the test station (near Nagercoil) of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre commissioned by Dr Satish Dhawan in 1975, before this became a formal requirement, and including that of Bedthi Hydroelectric Project in 1979, a more recent one of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Project by NEERI, and the latest one of the Neutrino Observatory in the Nilgiris, and so on. A serious effort on a war footing will have to be launched in this context, and I would like to request Dr G V Subrahmanyam to lead this effort. Of course, we also need to have ready access to and examine the Mohan Ram Committee Report, Hon’ble Supreme Court’s decisions, recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife etc, specifically mentioned in our mandate. Of course, these are only some initial suggestions; all of us need to put our heads together and finalize a comprehensive list of useful information resources during our first meeting.

We might also wish to commission specific reviews of existing information.

Possibilities include :

1) Birds of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr Ranjit Daniels,

2) Amphibians of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr Gururaja,

3) Hill streams of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr K A Subramaniam,

4) Balsams of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr Bhaskar,

5) Uropeltid snakes of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr Karthik Shankar,

6) Tiger and panther populations of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan,

7) Elephant populations of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: Dr T N C Vidya,

8) Landscapes of Western Ghats: Dr Harini Nagendra,

9) Crop genetic resources of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: An expert from NBPGR,

10) Wild relatives of Cultivated Plants of Western Ghats and a strategy for their conservation: An expert from NBPGR,

11) Current Protected Areas Network of the Western Ghats: Dr Savarkar, former Director, WII, and so on. Please note that this is only an indicative list based on my personal knowledge; your feedback is most welcome; the list may be examined, changed, added to and finalized at our first meeting.

All of this will need some funding from the Ministry, and I would like to request Dr G V Subrahmanyam to assess the possibilities before our first meeting.

All thoughts, ideas, offers of undertaking specific responsibilities in this context, would be most welcome.

Annexure-IV: Western Ghats Expert Group: Time frame

Agenda item for meeting of the Western Ghats Expert Group on 31/03/10.

We need to decide upon a time frame for completing our assignment.

I propose the following for consideration.

1. Chalk out a work plan and time frame: 31/03/10

2. Complete commissioning of discussion papers (to be submitted by 15/07/10) by 15/04/10

3. Develop a Western Ghats Expert Group web page on ATREE and CES, IISc, websites by 15/04/10. This will provide access to all documents of interest (older documents, commissioned papers as they are received, all records of work of the Western Ghats Expert Group). Some of these will be in both normal and wiki versions, open for inputs by all registrants. Posting of pertinent documents will begin on 15/04/10, and continue till 15/09/10.

4. Put up a site for registration by individuals and institutions who wish to contribute to the work of the Western Ghats Expert Group by 15/04/10

5. Site visits and consultations by members of Western Ghats Expert Group: 15/04/10 to 15/08/10. A broad programme will be decided upon on 31/03/10. Records of these discussions and consultations would be immediately put up on the Western Ghats Expert Group web page, welcoming public feedback.

6. Brain storming sessions on specific themes: 15/04/10 to 15/08/10. A broad programme will be decided upon on 31/03/10. Records of these discussions would be immediately put up on the Western Ghats Expert Group web page, welcoming public feedback.

7. Develop and post an initial version of the Report of the Western Ghats Expert Group on its web page by 01/09/10, welcoming public feedback.

8. Submit a final version of the Report of the Western Ghats Expert Group, in both printed form, and as a more detailed web based version by 15/09/10.

To be continued ..

NEXT : Minutes of the Second Meeting of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel held on 7th May 2010 at 10.00 am at BSI, Coimbatore.

***

NOTE :

1. Illegal forest land acquisition behind Kerala floods, says ecologist Madhav Gadgil
The ecologist said extensive stone quarrying and mushrooming of high-rises as part of tourism, and illegal forest land acquisition by private parties are the major reasons for the recent floods in the state : Aug 19, 2018 : HINDUSTANTIMES

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has described the floods in Kerala as a man-made disaster; a reaction to the illegal excavations, stone quarrying done over a decade.

In an interview to Hindustan Times, Gadgil said, “Irresponsible environmental policy is to be blamed for the recent floods and landslides in Kerala. Extensive stone quarrying and mushrooming of high-rises as part of tourism, and illegal forest land acquisition by private parties are the major reasons for the recent floods in the state.”

Most of the areas affected by this monsoon were once classified as ecologically-sensitive zones by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel , also known as the Gadgil Committee, formed in 2010 the Centre.

Accusing the successive Kerala governments of inaction, Gadgil said, “We had first submitted the report in 2011...we were in a sense boycotted by government officials as we had recommended them to stop illegal activities...”

Gadgil said that the report had very specifically pointed that if the stone quarrying was not stopped, it might eventually lead to natural calamities “like the one happening in the state today”. However, the establishments turned a deaf ear to the recommendations. According to Gadgil, a total of 1,650 excavators were deployed for stone quarrying and mining, of which only 150 were given permissions.

Expressing grief over the situation in Kerala, Gadgil said, “The government should at least now stop all the illegal stone quarrying activities after having faced the consequences. Although it is late, the government must act on the recommendations ...”

2. Bad dam management caused Kerala floods: Madhav Gadgil : Mon, Sep 03 2018 : Nidheesh M.K : LIVEMINT

Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, whose report on Western Ghats was rejected by the Kerala government, on what caused the Kerala floods and how the rebuilding process should be carried out.

Ernakulam (Kerala): Submitted seven years ago on 31 August 2011, ecologist Madhav Gadgil’s report on the biodiverse Western Ghats—a portion of which falls in Kerala—had warned that the combination of massive ecological destruction and extreme weather events trigger disaster. His words proved prophetic in the second half of August when the century’s worst flood unleashed destruction in Kerala. As the state searches for an appropriate way to rebuild itself, the man who penned several key reports on ecological hotspots and founded the Centre for Earth Science Studies in Bengaluru, is back in the limelight.

After the floods, the Kerala government has barred rebuilding houses in places where landslides have happened, pending a study to decide such fragile areas could withstand fresh construction. This is exactly one of the things your report wanted the government to do seven years ago, to prepare a map of landslide-prone areas and ban construction in at least some of those zones. Do you feel vindicated, finally?

It is not a question of vindication but I’m very happy. We submitted a very honest and carefully documented report, both in terms of facts and the framework of our Constitution laws and so on. Actually, I was amazed when my colleagues and Government of India officials also said, fine let’s go ahead and submit such a report. That it would be accepted in some full sense was out of question. But it should promote some positive action was certainly my intention. It has taken time. At least now these factors are taken into account, it is a good sign.

Do you have a theory on what caused the Kerala floods?

This is, of course, not based on any kind of in-depth understanding or study. But from what I understand, probably the most serious cause was the very bad reservoir management and the sudden release of so much water. Compounding that was all sorts of constructions that have come up where it certainly should not have come up. And then, quarries and so on. Today, somebody was mentioning that the Pampa river water apparently has a lot of crushed stone powder in it, which obviously stone quarries must have contributed. All of these should be examined. As I have been saying, there is no justification why the information on how the reservoirs are supposed to be managed (has been) kept hidden. There must be some operating procedure, when it should be released, in what quanta it should be released. These operation manuals should be available for the public to see and for experts outside the system to examine and comment upon.

You are concurring with Madhavan Rajeevan, earth science ministry’s secretary, who remarked last week that India does not have a policy to manage water in reservoirs while commenting on Kerala floods. Why is it that such a policy has not been evolved?

I think there is every intention not to get away from mismanagement. Mismanagement means large gains which then are shared widely. This sort of favouring mismanagement is not compatible with good development of policies, openness of information. Once, I had to spent three days in a tribal village near Tapi river. I really wanted to understand how they live; so I lived in their huts and ate what they ate—millet bread and garlic chutney. But soon, I realised it was a bit too much and the villagers out of sympathy promised to feed me melon from their fields. When we went to the melon farm, we saw an engineer collecting hafta (bribe). So, every year, when the melon farms are ripe, the engineer would threaten them of suddenly releasing the water from the dam. That was the great Tapi river water release policy. This is just one possible way, a lot of such things are going on—probably favouring some people with irrigation water going to their fields than a more broader sharing. If there is a clear operating manual and a clear record, it will become evident and people will question.

In your speech on 31 August, you said: Kerala needs to turn over a new leaf and start safeguarding and rebuilding not only the lost man-made capital, but the natural, human and social capital as well. Please elaborate.

Building human capital means building an informed society, for which no investment is needed except the government obeying its own Right To Information Act and uploading all the information they keep hidden on the web. Social capital is seeing an end to social disharmony. You must take actions to respect the rights of people, and violation of those rights by all sorts of mafias operating is an ingredient of increasing social disharmony. Natural capital would be rebuilding and proper management of water streams and so on. Let’s say making water of rivers clean once again.

On the social and natural capital, Kerala is presented with an immediate problem: there would be a major demand for stones and minerals for reconstruction, but a need to restrain quarrying given ecological sensitiveness. How much quarrying is good enough?

Stone quarries cannot be halted altogether, fully agreed. But why not do it in cooperative sector like Kudumbashree (Kerala’s four-million strong women’s cooperative network). I’ve seen those women for 20 years and they did a very good job. They would operate it in careful fashion, without imposing undue damage on nature. They themselves will become competent in handling business and in turn, enhance their capability. Because of their gram sabhas and all, they are protected against the violence that the stone quarry operator would have liked to launch on them, improving social capital. So, all will be simultaneously achieved.

You spoke about development by exclusion as the existing dharma. Do you think it has reached a point where it cannot be reversed?

This is something for which I can only give answer as a student of Buddha’s philosophy. Buddha advocates that never lose heart. You cannot allow yourself to immerse in despondency and think nothing can happen, so you should keep trying.

How can it be reversed?

The government must implement the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution and give gram panchayats the right to reject some development projects if they do not want it. It should set up biodiversity management committees in preparation of environmental impact assessment instead of uniformly fraudulent documents submitted today. Kerala is actually well placed to do such sustainable development. The democratic devolution here has progressed more than any other state. Panchayat-level resource mapping was done here followed by people’s planning campaign. Now if you ask me is it practical, is it practical to go on flouting laws? Is it impractical to create a law abiding democratic society?

In every development project, especially in the causes underlying Kerala floods, there is a vexing trade-off between development and environment. How does a democratic society go about resolving this trade-off? What should be the metric that should be employed?

Metric can be developed and worked at. Firstly, the statistics on livelihoods and how they are dependent on various resources, including natural resources—that has to be carefully collected. One ends up only making vague estimates because there isn’t enough very sound statistics made readily available. Unfortunately, academic people are scared shitless, if I may say so, of coming to conclusions which would be against the whole lot of vested interests. When Goa high court banned mining in Goa some years ago, I said this is a wonderful academic opportunity. You can do some research on the ecological effects in the aftermath of mining, studies on how employment is being affected by this ban, and so on. Instead of doing some imitative research imitating some western studies, here is a natural experiment you can take advantage of. They were all scared of taking up any study which will draw any conclusions and the wrath of those in power.

Sustainable development entails costs, similar to projects that ignore the environment risks. How does this cost get justified and underwritten? Especially in a less developed economy like India where the challenge of poverty alleviation can be overwhelming and invites risky short cuts?


The question is how the poverty alleviation programmes are actually operating. You should have among other things, say an employment audit. It should look at not only the organized sector but livelihoods in the unorganized sector which is the vast majority of livelihoods of Indians. Suppose a chemical industry will generate employment which is necessary for alleviating poverty. But what if you end up doing is destroying livelihoods of much larger number of fisherfolk, pollute rivers which provide water to large number of villages and affect their health, reduce the availability of fish proteins which people could afford and is no longer available. There should be a full audit of all these issues and then the mis-justification of many schemes fronted as to alleviate poverty will come out.

***

OPINION :

1. LDF AND UDF BOTH DESTROYED KERALA, WESTERN GHATS, SUPPORTING AND EARNING FINANCIAL BENEFITS FROM ALL MAFIA GROUPS;

2. THIS REPORT WAS SUBMITTED MANY YEARS BACK, BUT  KERALA UNDER THESE TWO STUPID FRONTS RULE, NEVER  BOTHERED, AND NOT WILLING TO IMPLEMENT;

3. BUT ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS THIS GADGIL REPORT IS REJECTED BY KERALA, KARNATAKA AND TAMIL NADU

4. GUJARAT, MAHARASHTRA, AND GOA GOVERNMENTS ALREADY STARTED IMPLEMENTING THE REFORMS;

5. THESE UDF AND LDF : BOTH FRONTS MAIN JOB TO ABUSE BJP, RSS, AND PM MODIJI AND HIS PROGRESSIVE REFORMS;

6. I AM VERY SAD TO SEE THE STUPIDITY OF KERALA PEOPLE, THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN PARTY FLAGS AND THE UNDUE BENEFITS FROM THE RESPECTIVE PARTIES;

7. NONE IS IMPARTIAL ABOVE CASTE, RELIGION, CREED AND OTHER MAN MADE DIVISIONS OF THE SOCIETY;

8. POLITICIANS EXPLOIT PEOPLE BY KEEPING THEM IN VARIOUS DIVISIONS;

9. RELIGIOUS HEADS ARE DEMONS, AND EQUALLY EXPLOIT THE PUBLIC, MORE THAN THAT THESE CARDINALS, BISHOPS, MOULVIES ETC,  ARE ALL CHARACTERLESS, AND DO ALL ILLEGAL BUSINESS IN THE STATE, THIS IS WIDELY KNOWN OPEN SECRET;

10. PEOPLE MUST RAISE ABOVE ALL AND BREAK THE PRESENT DIRTY BUSINESS AND ASSOCIATIONS AMONG RELIGIOUS HEADS+MAFIA GROUPS+POLITICIANS, AND MAKE THEM ANSWERABLE TO THE SOCIETY. 

LAST WORD  :

1. COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT OF KERALA IS MORE INTERESTED IN ESCORTING WOMEN IN REPRODUCTIVE AGE TO SANNIDHANAM OF SABARIMALA -TO INSULT THE TEMPLE RULES AND REGULATIONS UNDER THE STUPID COVER OF SC VERDICT;

2. THEN WHY THESE BUGGERS NOT IMPLEMENTING GADGIL REPORT, ANSWER THE PEOPLE IDIOTS.

***

JAI HIND
JAI BHARATHAM
VANDE MATARAM
BHARAT MATA KI JAI

371/177