Photo:   Dr Rajendra Shende

Pune: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) former Director and Green Terre Foundation Chief Dr Rajendra Shende has issued a warning in the backdrop of the Wayanad disaster.

Shende said, “The Wayanad incident is a final warning issued by the Western Ghats. There will be bigger loss to life and property in a catastrophe if we continue to destroy the Ghats for reckless development.”

Environmentalist Shende played a major role in granting the ‘World Natural Heritage’ status to the Western Ghats. He said, “The Madhavrao Gadgil Committee 2011 and Dr K Kasturirangan Committee 2013 drew attention to the degradation of the Western Ghats. However, the states concerned and the Centre conveniently neglected them. Destruction of the Ghats continued. The consequences were felt in the Malin disaster in 2014 and Irshalwadi incident in 2023. 

“The Malin incident was the first warning by the Western Ghats. Later, we continued to loot resources and to damage the Ghats for reckless development. Now, the Wayanad landslides have happened. It is a direct result of apathy shown by the state government and the Centre towards the environment. A bigger tragedy is unavoidable if we continue to destroy the Ghats. Urgent collective and all-inclusive measures need to be started to preserve the Western Ghats.

“The Western Ghats or the Sahyadri Mountain Ranges are older than the Himalayas and is a treasure of biodiversity. It plays an important role in bringing the annual monsoon rains and in the overall environment of the country. It is one of the main biodiversity hotspots in the world. There are 39 World Heritage Sites such as Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandoli and Radhanagari. It has distinct and unique features. They have a positive impact on biodiversity in the country. Therefore, we must protect and preserve this world heritage.

“The Central government has issued a notification declaring only 57,000 sq km out of 1,60,000 sq km Western Ghat area as environmentally sensitive. The reports were submitted by Dr Gadgil and Dr Kasturirangan a decade ago. A lot of damage has been done to the Ghats during this period. Hence, more area needs to be declared sensitive after reviewing the conditions locally.”