Silent Valley Movement

(Kerala)
Yogya Rajpurohit
 • The silent valley is located in the Palghat district of Kerala.
• It is an evergreen tropical forest and is home to the largest population
of lion-tailed macaque (a species of monkey).

Introduction • The idea of a dam on the river Kunthipuzha in this hill system was
conceived by the British in 1929. 
• The technical feasibility survey was carried out in 1958 and the
project was sanctioned by the Planning Commission of the
Government of India in 1973. 
 • In 1978, the movement against the project from all corners of the region was raised from
all sections of the population. 
• The movement was first initiated by the local people along with M. G. K. Menon but it was
subsequently taken over by the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP). 

Introduction • Many environmental groups like the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS) and Silent Valley Action Forum participated in the campaign. 
• Silent Valley is identified as a region with high biodiversity and an important Gene
Pool resource for Recombinant DNA innovations by the Indian Council of Agricultural
Research, ICAR (India). 
 • The British named the area ‘Silent Valley’ because of a perceived absence of noisy
Cicadas. It is an evergreen tropical forest and is home to the largest population of
lion-tailed macaque (a species of monkey).
• The Kuntipuzha is a major river that flows 15 km southwest from Silent Valley. 

Background • It takes its origin in the lush green forests of Silent Valley.
• In 1928, the location on the Kunthipuzha River at Sairandhri was identified as an
ideal site for electricity generation. 
• Initially, the decision was made by the British government to build a dam across the
river, which originates from the forest. 
 • In 1958, a study and survey of the area were conducted, and a
hydroelectric project was proposed by the Kerala State Electricity
Board (KSEB). 
Background • The plans for a hydroelectric project that threatened the park’s high
diversity of wildlife stimulated an Environmentalist Social Movement
in the 1970s called ‘Save Silent Valley’ which resulted in the
cancellation of the project.
The Movement
• In 1931, S. Dowson, a british engineer, proposed the idea of a dam for
the first time.
• In 1951, the government conducted a survey to check feasibility of a
hydro-electric power plant at the Silent Valley.
• Foreign scientists like Steven Green and Romulus Whitaker, they
alerted the then government about the ecological importance of
silent valley and also explicitly stated their concern about the nearly
extinct species of the macaque.
• In 1973, the Planning Commission of India, formally approved the
Silent Valley Hydro-electric Project
The Movement
• In 1973, the movement started against the aforementioned approval
of Hydro-electric project, to protect the reserve forest from being
affected by the same
• The Kerala State Electricity Board had to slacken the work on the
project due to the construction of Idukki Hydro-electric Project.
• In the April of 1976, National Council for Environmental Planning
studied the feasibility of the hydro-electric project.
• The task-force suggested that project should be abandoned and the
valley to be declared a biosphere reserved area.
The Movement
• In 1977, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) adopted a resolution
opposing the implementation of the Silent Valley Hydro-electric
Project (SVHP).
• The KSSP effectively aroused public opinion by publishing a
techno-economic and socio-political assessment report on the
Silent Valley hydroelectric project.
• An expert team from Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) studied
and submitted report strongly urging to abandon the project.
The Movement
• The KSSP generated public opinion against the project.
• The plans for a hydroelectric project that threatened the park’s
high diversity of wildlife stimulated an Environmentalist Social
Movement in the 1970s called ‘Save Silent Valley’ which
resulted in the cancellation of the project. 
Resolution by IUCN
• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) adopted a resolution specifically urging the
Government of India to conserve the western ghats more effectively,
including the undisturbed forests of the Silent Valley.
• Strongly recommended protection of lion tailed macaques- another
controversy against Silent Valley Hydro-electric Project.
• In 1980, Indira Gandhi requested the Government of Kerala to
abandon the construction of the SVHP. Gandhi requested the Chief
Minister of Kerala to consider possibilities of alternative projects for
meeting the power needs of the state.
THE MENON COMMITTEE
• In 1982, a multidisciplinary committee with Prof. M. G. K. Menon as chairman and Madhav Gadgil, 
Dilip K. Biswas and others as members, was created to decide if the hydroelectric project was feasible without
any significant ecological damage.
• In 1982, the Menon Committee submitted its report after thoroughly examining various aspects of SVHP. This
report too emphasised on the ecological significance of the Silent Valley.
• The valley is famous for many rare species of birds and animals. 
• Birdlife International listed 16 bird species in Silent Valley as threatened or restricted. 
• The mammals in the valley include Gaur, the largest of all wild cattle. There are at least 34 species of
mammals at Silent Valley, including the threatened species of mammals. 
• Over 128 species of butterflies and 400 species of moths live here.
• Silent Valley is identified as a region with high biodiversity and an important Gene Pool resource for
Recombinant DNA innovations by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR (India). 
• In 1983, finally the Silent Valley Hydro-electric Project was shelved. Thus, the SVHP became the case in which a
hydro-electric project, which was once sanctioned, was abandoned for purely ecological reasons in India.
Participation and Mobilisation
• Mobilisation and awareness through editorials in Malayalam and
English newspapers.
• Various activist groups used different strategies ranging from
distribution of templates amongst the common people to holding
public awareness camps and gatherings.
• In 1982, July, the Prakrithi Samrakshana Samiti, an eco-social
organisation, submitted a united appeal from scientists, writers and
social activists to save the Silent Valley.
• A poem by a poet activist, Sugathakumari, called “Marathinu Stuthi
(Ode to a Tree)” became a symbol for the protest. Several other poets
along with Sugathakumari had formed a group called “The Tree
Poets”.
Aftermath and Current State of Affairs
• In 1985, the area was notified as a National Park and since then a
long-term conservation effort undertaken to preserve the Silent Valley
ecosystem.
• The Kerala Government has not taken any decision on reviving the
Silent Valley Hydro-electric Project.
• In 2001, a new hydro project was proposed which was alternative for
silent valley project but it was also abandoned.
• In 2007, Silent Valley buffer zone was formally approved by the Kerala
Cabinet, the cabinet also sanctioned staff to protect the area.