Shibu Baby John's 'Nature Needs No Protection' Remarks Trigger Controversy

Thiruvananthapuram: Shibu Baby John has sparked controversy with remarks stating that it is time to seriously consider how much more nature can be exploited. In a strange assertion, the minister claimed nature needs no protection, saying it has existed here for ages and will continue to do so.

"Everyone says 'save the planet', protect nature. Nature needs no protection at all. Nature has been here for ages and will continue to move forward. We need to be conscious of how much we need as a human race," the minister said.

The remarks come at a time when Keralam is facing intensifying environmental crises — including extreme rainfall, landslides and human-wildlife conflicts.

Three people died in the Kalladi landslide in Wayanad just the other day, and five remain missing. Even as ministers are busy deflecting responsibility and blaming each other over the disaster, the Forest Minister's position appears to be that nature must be exploited further for profit.

Environmental activists point out that treating nature merely as a resource to be exploited is itself part of the problem. Sharp criticism has mounted against the head of the very department tasked with protecting the environment appearing to call for greater exploitation of nature.