But Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, looks at the same issue from a larger perspective. He believes not only the Narmada struggle but water in general is the only common issue that figures as an electoral concern in most constituencies. Sonia Gandhi, widow of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, is running in the Bellary constitutuency of Karnataka state. Kothari is straightforward. Professor M.K. Ramesh of the Centre for Environmental Education Research and Advocacy, in Bangalore, is more scathing about the attention politicians pay to the environment.
Politicians often see environment as being in opposition to development.
Leo Saldanha of the Environment Support Group in Bangalore agrees. He regrets that serious environmental impacts continue to be seen as attendant hazards, like occupational hazards. The general populace attaches low values to safe and sound environmental qualities, and fails to perceive that the last government they elected had something to do with the worsening quality of their environment. Unless tangible connections are made it will be difficult to raise the general understanding of the masses on the issue to an electoral platform, Saldanha says. Thakkar is amused at the myopia of political parties, especially since they do not understand environmental issues.