Mangaluru: Speaking about the cause for the torrential rain and floods the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC) expressed its concern over the present flood and landslide scenario in the Western Ghat area and said that the situation occurring in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Kerala is already out of control.

The Yettinahole project, which the state government is implementing, is responsible for the ecological imbalance. At present mindless cutting of trees on a mammoth scale is taking place in the Western Ghats. Because of this, the land of Western Ghats is unable to retain the water and losing its strength,” said National Environment Protection Council (NEPC).

The statement given by the council said, “The huge hills and mountains are falling due to the usage of heavy JCB machines. Western Ghats have lost their land mass due to the huge stone quarries dug at many places. The Western Ghats are becoming witness to a historical disaster which was never heard before in its history. Political leaders are running towards the flood relief centres on the pretext of providing help. However, no one is taking the initiative to prevent the destruction of the environment.”

“Government is planning to cut seven lac trees of Shola forest in the Western Ghats in order to make a 200 feet wide road at Bisileghat. It is not willing to budge from its decision, even though the environment lovers and organizations are holding protests against this plan. Coffee estates in Madikeri are cut into several parts and are converted into resorts. Each house has dug a bore well and the forest is being transformed into a concrete jungle. This is the reason for inviting the wrath of nature,” said the further analysis by NEPC.

Expressing its unhappiness on Yettinahole project the NEPC said, “The revenue minister is asking people to cut down the forests and make farms. However, the people of plain regions themselves are saying that they will not get water from the Yettinahole project and they do not want the project. However, the politicians including the central minister and MP of Chikkaballapur are not paying attention to the opinion of the public. The people are also not questioning their actions on the Yettinahole project.”

NEPC warned that due to the relentless destruction of the forest for the past five decades, Madikeri and Kerala have borne the brunt of nature and it will not be a surprise if Goa and Chikkamagaluru will will be the next in line to face similar calamity. “But the public is supporting people who are destroying the environment and revering people who destroy the forest.” said the statement.

“Even some of the visual media has not made an honest attempt to unearth the truth behind the destruction and encroachment of forest and killing of wild animals and do justice to the environment. If the citizens do not wake up even at this juncture and join hands to save nature, then they have to pay a huge price for the horrible wrath of nature in the future,” warned Sashidhar Shetty, convenor of the union.