Why VD Satheesan's plan to light up Athirappilly waterfalls raised eyebrows
The 'eco-friendly dynamic lighting project', as the Kerala government calls it, is proposed in a biodiversity zone known for rare birds as also human-animal conflict
The ‘eco-friendly dynamic lighting project’, as the government calls it, is proposed in the Vazhachal forest division, a biodiversity zone known for rare birds and where the 81.5 feet high and 330 feet wide Athirappilly waterfalls flow, earning the nomenclature ‘Niagara of South India’.
Located on the Chalakudy river, the waterfalls attract around 1.5 million tourists every year. The area is already one of the hotspots of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala, particularly elephants. Satheesan’s decision, as the state’s finance minister presenting his first budget, aims to attract tourists to the waterfalls at night. So far, tourist entry to the location has remained restricted to 6 am to 6 pm.
“The project threatens to destabilise the region’s biodiversity. Whatever you name it, lighting up the area would result in massive light pollution and inflict permanent damage on wildlife,” warned Dr P.S. Easa, chairman of conservation advocacy group Care Earth Trust and a renowned wildlife biologist with over 43 years of expertise, in a conversation with INDIA TODAY.
Easa resides in Thrissur and is familiar with the ecological issues of the region. He described the project as against the “cardinal principle of responsible tourism and eco-tourism”.
A senior forest official, speaking anonymously to INDIA TODAY, said the department had never mooted the proposal to the government. “We have neither suggested nor conducted a feasibility study on the budget proposal for dynamic lighting of the Athirappilly waterfalls. It has major consequences for the flora and fauna of the region,” the official said.
The fragile region is home to several animal and bird species, such as the Lion-tailed Macaque, Asian Elephant, Nilgiri Marten, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon and Cochin Forest Cane Turtle.
“Altering the biological clock of the region by lighting it up would threaten the conservation efforts in a fragile ecosystem. Not only mammals but butterflies and insects too will perish. A biodiversity site takes shape over thousands of years, and this government project is out to destroy one,” said S.P. Ravi, general secretary of the Chalakudy River Basin Protection Council.
Ravi, as a leading environmentalist of Kerala, had led an agitation against the Athirappilly hydroelectric plant on the Chalakudy river, compelling the Oommen Chandy government (2011-16) to drop the project. “We will resist the Athirappilly lighting project too with people’s support. I suspect a hidden agenda behind the budget proposal,” said Ravi.
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The ‘eco-friendly dynamic lighting project’, as the government calls it, is proposed in the Vazhachal forest division, a biodiversity zone known for rare birds and where the 81.5 feet high and 330 feet wide Athirappilly waterfalls flow, earning the nomenclature ‘Niagara of South India’.
Located on the Chalakudy river, the waterfalls attract around 1.5 million tourists every year. The area is already one of the hotspots of human-wildlife conflict in Kerala, particularly elephants. Satheesan’s decision, as the state’s finance minister presenting his first budget, aims to attract tourists to the waterfalls at night. So far, tourist entry to the location has remained restricted to 6 am to 6 pm.
“The project threatens to destabilise the region’s biodiversity. Whatever you name it, lighting up the area would result in massive light pollution and inflict permanent damage on wildlife,” warned Dr P.S. Easa, chairman of conservation advocacy group Care Earth Trust and a renowned wildlife biologist with over 43 years of expertise, in a conversation with INDIA TODAY.
Easa resides in Thrissur and is familiar with the ecological issues of the region. He described the project as against the “cardinal principle of responsible tourism and eco-tourism”.
A senior forest official, speaking anonymously to INDIA TODAY, said the department had never mooted the proposal to the government. “We have neither suggested nor conducted a feasibility study on the budget proposal for dynamic lighting of the Athirappilly waterfalls. It has major consequences for the flora and fauna of the region,” the official said.
The fragile region is home to several animal and bird species, such as the Lion-tailed Macaque, Asian Elephant, Nilgiri Marten, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Great Hornbill, Nilgiri Wood-Pigeon and Cochin Forest Cane Turtle.
“Altering the biological clock of the region by lighting it up would threaten the conservation efforts in a fragile ecosystem. Not only mammals but butterflies and insects too will perish. A biodiversity site takes shape over thousands of years, and this government project is out to destroy one,” said S.P. Ravi, general secretary of the Chalakudy River Basin Protection Council.
Ravi, as a leading environmentalist of Kerala, had led an agitation against the Athirappilly hydroelectric plant on the Chalakudy river, compelling the Oommen Chandy government (2011-16) to drop the project. “We will resist the Athirappilly lighting project too with people’s support. I suspect a hidden agenda behind the budget proposal,” said Ravi.
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