Western ghats : under the threat of pollution & deforestation?

Western ghats is an ecologist's paradise. The mountain ranges extends from the south of Tapti river ending in Kanyakumari,covering Maharstra,Karnataka,Tamil Nadu and Kerala(1600km) and has an average height of 1200m. It is one among the ten "hottest biodiversity spots" in the world. It is characterized by a wide variety of flora (over 5,000 species) and fauna(139 mammals, 508bird , 179 amphibians and 325 critically endangered species). I have journeyed through the  evergreen part of western ghats from Coimbatore till Palakkad in train many times.  This is called Palakkad Gap(32-42km) which is the lowest pass in the mountain ranges which isolates Kerala from Tamil Nadu. The  North side Hill is about 1100m and on the South side the same is about 2000m. Both NH47 Highway and the rail link joining Kerala to Tamil Nadu pass through this gap.You will be amazed by the vegetation and also the type, structure and startification of some kind of rocks which if analysed properly will tell you the origin of the mountain ranges itself. Such a rare biome is getting polluted by an industry situated almost inside the forest range. Whenever you pass through this way in train, you can notice the amount of dusts(many harmful chemicals?) deposited on the leaves. If a passer by can observe this much,  a chemical examination of the dust deposited on the plants near this industry might reveal hazardous materials which might have already caused changes in the ecosystem. This inturn affects many species. Many trees are cut down in this area and have paved the way for teak wood plantations. The Government and the forest department are turning a blind eye to this. It is our responsibility to keep such a precious  natural reservoir pollution free .The earth is not human beings' alone. Other species as well deserves the same right to live in a pollution free enviorment. We have very few national research centres in Kerala to properly identify the significance of such ranges and prevent deforestation. Here politicians and Forest department are too busy to notice our rapidly changing ecosystems which has a far reaching effect in climate change. A national research centre is necessary in Palakkad which should be specially dedicated to the ecology of the western ghats and the nearby areas in Kerala.

Every species inhabiting the earth has a right to live in their own habitat.Live and let live!