Abstract:
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel report advocates replacing the current pattern of exclusionary development and conservation by an inclusive regime, respecting the existing, but currently sabotaged, constitutional and legal provisions for environmental protection and democratic devolution of the decision-making process. The report's objective assessment of the prevailing situation and the recommendations that it should be taken to all the gram sabhas, and appropriate regulatory and promotional measures decided through a bottom-up democratic process were unacceptable to those currently benefi ting from the perpetuation of an economy of violence. They attempted to fi rst suppress and then subvert the report. There are, however, hopeful signs that the report's message is getting across to the people.
