Sat Nov 15 16:53:18 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article based on it:
Summary:
Historian Ramachandra Guha, speaking at the Nature inFocus festival in Bengaluru, criticized the Indian government (both central and state) for failing to consult scientific experts when developing policies, citing the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road and the Cheetah relocation project as prime examples. He argued that India has a wealth of expertise that is being ignored, leading to environmental degradation exacerbated by faulty economic policies. He believes the Cheetah relocation project is a financial scandal and that the funds would be better spent on protecting the native Asiatic lions. He also highlights Bengaluru as an example of both the benefits and drawbacks of economic liberalization, praising its IT and BT sector for contributing to economic growth, while also acknowledging its environmental degradation and economic inequality.
News Article:
Historian Slams Government for Ignoring Experts, Cites Bengaluru Tunnel and Cheetah Project as Examples
Bengaluru, November 15, 2025 – Renowned historian Ramachandra Guha delivered a scathing critique of government policy-making, accusing both central and state administrations of being “knowledge-proof” and failing to consult relevant scientific experts. Speaking at the 10th annual Nature inFocus festival in Bengaluru, Guha highlighted the proposed Bengaluru tunnel road project and the Cheetah relocation initiative as prominent examples of this disregard.
“India possesses a vast reservoir of scientific expertise capable of mitigating, if not solving, our complex environmental and social problems,” Guha stated. “Yet, these experts, drawn from universities and research institutes across the country, are consistently ignored.”
He specifically targeted the Karnataka government’s tunnel road project, emphasizing that leading energy and transport experts, many based in Bengaluru, have not been consulted.
Guha also labeled the Cheetah relocation project a “disaster and a colossal financial scandal,” questioning the logic of importing cheetahs when resources could be directed towards protecting the endangered Asiatic lions native to India.
He also noted the rise of Bengaluru as a technology hub as a double edged sword, noting the innovation and progress but also the environment degradation.
He concluded by asserting that many of India’s environmental problems, like air pollution and water depletion, stem from poorly conceived economic policies rather than solely climate change, disproportionately burdening the poor and vulnerable.
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