Wayanad landslides: Madhav Gadgil deeply affected by tragedy

Pune: Deeply affected by the landslides in Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad, renowned Indian ecologist and academic Madhav Gadgil said on Tuesday that he is not in the right frame of mind to comment on the frequent landslides in Kerala.

The Gadgil Committee, established thirteen years ago, had warned against unregulated construction activities in Kerala. The report was talked about only during the occurrence of similar tragic incidents. In the 2011 report submitted to the government, there was a specific warning about environmentally harmful activities in Meppadi, the site of the tragedy.

The areas of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, Noolpuzha and Meppadi were identified as ecologically sensitive in the Gadgil report. However, the Central Government at that time rejected the report and formed another committee, led by Kasturirangan, to create a revised version. In a discussion held in September 2018 at the Pune International Center, Gadgil had emphasised that unchecked land acquisition, deforestation and unscientific construction practices have contributed to Kerala's flood crises.

While robust laws exist to safeguard nature and maintain ecological balance, their implementation has been lacking. Gadgil had stressed the need for public awareness and collective action against these issues. He had urged people not to shy away from advocating for environmental protection. He had also reminded that people have the right to intervene in such matters under the existing three-tier panchayat system.