Silent Valley Movement Halts Hydroelectric Dam in Kerala (1973-1985)
The Silent Valley Movement (1973-1985) in Kerala successfully prevented the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Kunthipuzha River, safeguarding 89.52 sq.km of rainforest and the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque. Led by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, the campaign garnered significant public support and culminated in the area being designated as India's 15th National Park in 1985. This movement highlighted the impact of ecological advocacy on policy-making in India.
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The Silent Valley Movement (1973-1985) in Kerala successfully halted a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Kunthipuzha River, protecting 89.52 sq.km of rainforest and the endangered Lion-tailed Macaque. The movement, spearheaded by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), gathered 10 lakh signatures and gained national attention after the Kerala State Electricity Board proposed a 240 MW dam.
The project threatened primary rainforest and numerous vegetative species. The campaign included scientific activism and public meetings emphasizing biodiversity. In 1985, the area was declared the 15th National Park in India by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The movement demonstrated that ecological concerns could influence policy without force, establishing a precedent for environmental review in India.
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