Pune, 1st December 2024: Quarrying activities in the Western Ghats are severely impacting rainfall patterns and causing environmental degradation, said senior environmentalist Dr. Madhav Gadgil on Saturday.
He was addressing the inaugural session of a one-day seminar organized by the National Alliance for Social and Environmental Justice, under the National Coordination of People’s Movements, in Pune. The seminar was attended by prominent environmentalists including Prof. Saumya Dutta, Vijay Paranjpe, Prafulla Samantara, Suniti SR, and Santosh Lalwani. Medha Patkar, a leader of the National Coordination of People’s Movements, joined the discussion virtually.
Dr. Gadgil highlighted the destructive consequences of rampant quarrying in the Western Ghats. “The quarrying industry has expanded unchecked, with mountains being dug up for stone extraction. This has led to landslides across various regions. In Kerala, more than 400 people lost their lives due to landslides triggered by these activities. Workers are often forced to live in unsafe areas, such as steep slopes near tea gardens, which are prone to landslides. Tragically, rehabilitation rarely occurs for those displaced. For instance, families displaced during the construction of the Koyna Dam in 1956 are still waiting for homes,” he said.
Referring to Malin, where a massive landslide caused devastation in 2014, Gadgil stressed the urgency of addressing these issues. He noted that landslides, previously rare, are now frequent due to indiscriminate environmental exploitation.
Dr. Gadgil also shed light on the increasing presence of aerosols—fine particulate matter—in the atmosphere, which is exacerbating extreme weather events. “India has one of the highest levels of aerosols, primarily due to quarrying and vehicular emissions. These particles create a layer in the atmosphere that interacts with rising sea vapors, forming dense clouds. When these clouds release rain, it often results in intense downpours over a short period, leading to floods,” he explained.
Medha Patkar, addressing the seminar, criticized the lack of focus on river health and mismanagement of development projects. “Rivers are being encroached upon and degraded due to unplanned projects. This will worsen the already critical condition of our rivers. Unfortunately, agencies like the Pollution Control Board turn a blind eye to these issues. It is essential to rethink our development paradigms and adopt sustainable practices,” she said.
Patkar also emphasized the importance of leveraging the Right to Information Act to challenge environmentally harmful projects. “When we advocate for the environment, we are often labeled as urban Naxals or traitors. However, we must continue to raise our voices against dangerous projects and fight for the well-being of our natural resources,” she added.
The seminar concluded with a call for collective action to protect the Western Ghats and address the growing environmental crisis through sustainable development policies and community participation.
