kerala, unveiled its forest policy yesterday.

kerala is a state that is dependent hugely on its enviornment whether it is for life savings tourism, for its culture, for its tradition, for its drinking water - kerala's forests, rivers, backwaters, etc are the pillars.

kerala's forest policy has several interesting elements namely participatory forest conservation, protection of forest corridors, more legal action against forest mafia's, etc

but kerala should also have a wholesome approach to its development. dams such as athirapally and pathrakkadavu threaten directly crucial forests that are millions of years old. kerala should massively embark on solar systems, LED based light systems, cutting t&d losses, massive conservation of electricity. sugathakumari the legendary poet says correctly,
Sugathakumari, poet, said the Government should ensure that the remaining forests in the State were not destroyed. Pointing out that the Pathrakkadavu area actually formed part of the environmentally fragile Silent Valley, she appealed to the Chief Minister to restrain the Electricity Minister from reviving the proposal for a hydel project there.

(The spectacular waterfall between the Neelikkal and Pathrakkadavu hills bordering the Silent Valley will disappear if the proposed Pathrakkadavu hydro-electric project is implemented.)