Western Ghats range extends to 1600 km along six states including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The mighty hills and forest areas in the Western Ghats forms the habitat for many rare wild organisms including animals, birds, reptiles, fishes, butterflies etc. The rich natural wealth has offered a better living to the human being too. The climate and ecology suitable for cultivations of tea, coffee and many spices including cardamom, cinnamon, clove etc. is well exploited too. It is a matter of great significance that about 5000 species of plants finds their home at Western Ghats. But due to many human activities the existence of Western Ghats is under threat. Men cut trees for their business and the ecological balance of nature is being lost. They cut forest and make their home. Now it is the time to raise voice against the ill activities against Western Ghats. It is time to save the Western Ghats.
The efforts to save the Western Ghats will be arduous. Everybody will have to work together. Nobody is giving concern to the stability of nature and other living things. Without nature and its resources nobody can live long. All the activities that support deforestation will question our own survival. Western Ghats has given many things to us. Three major rivers Godavari, Krishna and Kavery and many small rivers originate from here. Still men’s activities disturb nature. Hunting was a major issue in Western Ghats. Many animals and birds faced extinction due to this. Nilgiri Tahr almost disappeared. After many conservation measures its populations has seen betterment. As many areas were declared as buffer zones most of the wild species got safer habitats. Still the problems were not solved. As the greed of men increased they started exploiting the forest areas for plantations and habitation. It is a fact that about 60% of the land has been already lost due to such activities.
The deforestation and exploitation of land at Western Ghats should be completely banned. The construction of thermal power plants near these areas should also be banned. Hydro electric power plants should be constructed without causing any harm to any wild organisms. The exploitation of protected areas for agricultural activities should also be banned. A lot of controversies are being happened all over the country on the protection of Western Ghats. As K.Kasturirangan report was accepted last year that recommending about 37% area under pristine condition to be declared as ‘Ecologically Sensitive Area’ a lot of protests came from the local people mainly from Kerala. Human beings are also part of nature. It is not wise to destroy their habitat. But a better compromise should be done to save the nature from disasters. Western Ghats is a boon that we got from nature. We are responsible to conserve it with all its glory.
Jyothis Mp