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Activist Slams Sidelining of Environment for Development
10 Oct
Summary
- Medha Patkar criticizes government's attitude towards encroachment
- Wayanad landslides in 2024 highlighted consequences of sidelining environment
- Tribal populations in Maharashtra unaffected by COVID-19 due to harmony with nature
On October 10, 2025, prominent environmental activist Medha Patkar criticized the government's tendency to sideline environmental issues in favor of rapid development. Patkar was speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the Kerala Environmental Fest, organized by the Prof. Shobhindran Foundation in Kozhikode.
Patkar argued that while development has brought about massive changes quickly, sidelining the environment could have severe repercussions, as seen in the 2024 Wayanad landslides. She emphasized that the suffering caused by such development-driven disasters should not be forgotten. Patkar also pointed out the government's double standards, where those who encroach on rivers go unpunished, while adivasis are penalized for occupying small patches of forest land.
Highlighting the need for harmony with nature, Patkar cited the case of certain tribal populations in Maharashtra who remained unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-day Kerala Environmental Fest featured discussions on a range of pressing issues, including water, hygiene, crops, energy crisis, atmospheric pollution, changing habitats, tourism, global warming, and the possibility of a 'Net Zero Carbon' Kerala.
