A coalition of 30 environmentalists, activists, writers, journalists, tribal leaders and public figures from Karnataka has written an open letter to Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, calling on him to apply the same environmental commitment he has shown toward the Great Nicobar Island Project (GNIP) to ecological crises unfolding in Congress-governed Karnataka. The letter, dated 1 August, was sent by actor and activist Chetan Ahimsa on behalf of Team Ahimsa.

The Core Demand: Consistency Over Convenience

The signatories opened by acknowledging Gandhi's opposition to the Union government's Great Nicobar Island Project, crediting him for speaking up against ecological destruction and the risks the project poses to indigenous communities. However, they argued that the same moral standard must apply regardless of which party holds power.

'If the ecological destruction in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands deserves national outrage, then the same moral standard should apply everywhere — including in states governed by your own party. That is why your silence on Karnataka's environmental crisis is so difficult to understand,' the letter stated. The signatories contended that leadership is measured by the willingness to confront difficult issues within one's own political formation.

Three Projects Under the Scanner

The letter specifically flagged three projects it described as threats to Karnataka's ecological future.

Mekedatu Dam Project: The signatories called this one of the largest ecological threats facing the state. They alleged the project would submerge approximately 12,350 acres of land, including portions of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and five villages. Critics argue it would fragment wildlife habitats, disrupt elephant corridors, and permanently alter one of southern India's most ecologically significant river systems. The project's estimated cost — reportedly between ₹9,000 crore and ₹14,000 crore — was also questioned, with the letter asking whether it represents the most sustainable long-term solution to Bengaluru's water needs.

Single-Window Mining Clearances: The letter criticised the Karnataka government's use of single-window clearances for mining approvals, alleging the mechanism weakens environmental scrutiny. Activists argued that forests, groundwater, hills and rural communities bear a disproportionate cost when development bypasses rigorous review.

Bidadi Township Project: The third concern involved the proposed Bidadi Township Project, which the signatories claimed would require the acquisition of nearly 9,600 acres of fertile agricultural land. They warned it could strain water resources, accelerate unsustainable urban expansion and threaten food security — framing it as an environmental justice issue, not merely an urban planning one.

Three Demands Placed Before Gandhi

The group placed three specific demands before the LoP. First, they urged him to push for scrapping the Mekedatu Dam in favour of eco-friendly water solutions for Bengaluru. Second, they called for abolishing the single-window mining approval mechanism, strengthening action against illegal mining, and increasing taxation on mining profits in line with Supreme Court judgments. Third, they demanded withdrawal of the Bidadi Township Project, with development redirected to non-fertile regions in central and northern Karnataka.

Who Signed the Letter

The memorandum was endorsed by a cross-section of civil society, including environmentalists Yellappa Reddy and Pandurang Hegde, director and activist Kavitha Lankesh, actor Neetu Shetty, writer B.T. Lalitha Naik, journalist Rajaraman, lawyer K.N. Jagadish, activist Veerasangaiah, and actor-activist Chetan Ahimsa, among others — a total of 30 signatories.

'Forests do not vote. Rivers do not recognise party symbols. Elephants do not distinguish between the BJP and the Congress,' the letter asserted, making a pointed case that environmental protection must transcend political affiliation. Whether Gandhi responds — and how — will be closely watched by Karnataka's conservation community.