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The Nilgiri Documentation Centre (NDC) has opposed the implementation of decarbonisation project in the Nilgiris, arguing that it could “wreak huge damage to the Nilgiris and its economy.” The government’s District Decarbonisation Action Plans (DDAP) for four districts in the State, included plans for the Nilgiris through forest conservation, agroforestry, wetland conservation and other means. However, the NDC claims that the district has been “environmentally conscious district” for hundreds of years and is “in fact a carbon surplus district with nearly 60% of the land under one form of forestry or the other.” “Any further extension of forest cover is neither feasible nor desirable. The non-indigenous people in the district depend primarily on tourism for their livelihood and survival. Recent restrictions in the form of e-pass etc have substantially affected their trade and business. Any further restrictions on tourism based on the spurious arguments of decarbonisation could deal a death blow to the tourist industry,” Dharmalingam Venugopal, honorary director of NDC, said. The NDC also urged the government to give forest rights to Adivasi communities before implementing climate-related projects. He also noted that the Badagas, the largest ethno-linguistic group in the Nilgiris have been ignored from being mentioned in the project. “In the interest of the future of the Nilgiris and its people we appeal to you to drop the decarbonisation project in the Nilgiris which is already carbon surplus by any indicator,” he added.
