Explain Silent Valley Movement.

The Silent Valley Movement was a conservation initiative that emerged in the 1970s in response to a proposed hydroelectric project in the Silent Valley, located in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. The project, known as the Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project, aimed to construct a dam on the Kunthipuzha River within the Silent Valley rainforest.

The movement gained momentum due to environmental concerns regarding the potential ecological impact on the unique biodiversity of the Silent Valley, which housed several endangered species and represented one of the last undisturbed tropical rainforests in the Western Ghats. Environmentalists, activists, and local communities rallied against the project, arguing that it would irreversibly damage the fragile ecosystem.

The Silent Valley Movement garnered widespread support and drew attention to the importance of preserving ecologically sensitive areas. Eventually, due to sustained protests and growing environmental awareness, the Indian government decided to abandon the Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project in 1983. The movement is considered a landmark success in the history of environmental conservation in India, highlighting the significance of grassroots activism in protecting vital ecosystems.