Western Ghats in trouble as govt builds roads in dense forests

Bengaluru: Dotting the western and southern parts of peninsular India, Western Ghats is one of the world’s 10 hottest hotspots. It is home to over 10,000 species of both flowering and non-flowering plants. It is also home to more than 130 mammal species and more than 500 bird species. In simple words, it is an invaluable treasure India has been blessed with.

But sadly, due to rampant urbanisation or modernisation, the Western Ghats are being destroyed mercilessly. Trees are being butchered to build more roads, but ironically, but it is only paving way for more and more destruction.

It is the sole responsibility of the forest department to take care of the Western Ghats. But it has failed to preserve and protect the ecologically sensitive areas.

Thirthahalli, near Shivamogga in Karnataka, is in the enfolds of the Western Ghats. Incidentally, it also happens to be birthplace of the famous poet Kuvempu. But sadly, even amidst greens, it has been declared as drought-it.

The government of India has issued an advisory, asking people to be judicious in their handling of rivers and river waters. But ironically, the government itself is on a damage mode as it is paving roads unnecessarily. In the middle of dense forests, the government is laying four-lane roads. Sometimes, these roads run into protected areas as well, thereby endangering the Western Ghats. Urbanisation and modernisation and modern facilities are indeed required for a better livelihood, but can the government disdainfully butcher the trees is the big question.