Major Environmental Movements in India

  1. Chipko Movement (1973)
    • Location: Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh)
    • Objective: To protect trees and forests from deforestation.
    • Key Figures: Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt
    • Impact: The movement led to a ban on the felling of trees in the Himalayan regions and inspired similar movements across India.
  2. Save Silent Valley Movement (1978-1983):
    • Location: Silent Valley, Kerala
    • Objective: To prevent the construction of a hydroelectric dam that would have submerged the valley and destroyed its rich biodiversity.
    • Key Figures: Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), local communities
    • Impact: The movement resulted in the cancellation of the dam project and the declaration of Silent Valley as a national park.
  3. Appiko Movement (1983):
    • Location: Western Ghats, Karnataka
    • Objective: To protect the forests from commercial logging and deforestation.
    • Key Figures: Panduranga Hegde
    • Impact: The movement led to the implementation of forest conservation measures and the protection of the Western Ghats.
  4. Jungle Bachao Andolan (1980s):
    • Location: Sariska, Rajasthan
    • Objective: To protect the Sariska forest from mining activities and illegal logging.
    • Key Figures: Local communities, environmental activists
    • Impact: The movement resulted in the ban on mining activities in the Sariska forest and the establishment of conservation measures.
  5. Narmada Bachao Andolan (1985-present):
    • Location: Narmada River, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra
    • Objective: To oppose the construction of large dams on the Narmada River and advocate for the rights of displaced communities.
    • Key Figures: Medha Patkar, Baba Amte
    • Impact: The movement brought international attention to the issues of displacement and environmental degradation caused by large dam projects.
  6. Tehri Dam Conflict (1990s):
    • Location: Tehri, Uttarakhand
    • Objective: To oppose the construction of the Tehri Dam, which threatened to displace thousands of people and submerge fertile land.
    • Key Figures: Local communities, environmental activists
    • Impact: The movement led to widespread protests and legal battles, but the dam was eventually completed.
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