Implement Gadgil report, says green forum
The Hindu
The Society for the Protection of Environment, Kerala (SPEK) has urged the State government to focus on protecting the environment and sustainable development while concentrating on mega projects in t
The Society for the Protection of Environment, Kerala (SPEK) has urged the State government to focus on protecting the environment and sustainable development while concentrating on mega projects in the State. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, SPEK president K.K.Vijayan and secretary K.K. Devadasan said that rampant urbanisation and development projects should not be at the cost of destruction of the environment. In such a context, the government should implement the recommendations of the Gadgil Committee on protection of the Western Ghats. Copies of the memorandum were also submitted to Revenue Minister K. Rajan, Electricity Minister K. Krishnankutty, and Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran. Stringent laws should be enacted to stop unrestricted mining and reclamation of paddy fields and water bodies, they said.
On November 30, a team of officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Water Resources Department (WRD) and Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) conducted a joint inspection of a rainwater vent below the Chennai Bypass Road in Thiruneermalai. This marks the second time NHAI and WRD have carried out an inspection following a request being made by residents. They want NHAI to widen the vent located below the Bypass Road to facilitate rainwater drainage from ‘Nattukalvai’. The office bearers of the Federation of Welfare Associations accompanied the officials.












