UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The Silent Valley movement opposed the construction of a hydroelectric dam that would have submerged unique tropical rainforest in the Western Ghats. Activists argued that the ecological loss would outweigh power gains. The stem refers to a project on the Kuntipuzha river,which was specifically a hydroelectric project. Therefore Option A is correct.

Option A:
Hydroelectric projects can provide renewable electricity but may also cause serious ecological and social impacts. In Silent Valley the concern was protecting an undisturbed rainforest ecosystem. This context aligns with the question.

Option B:
Mining was not the central issue in Silent Valley,although mining threatens other forest areas. The campaign here focused on stopping a dam,rather than extraction of minerals.

Option C:
An expressway affects land and traffic patterns,but Silent Valley’s controversy did not involve road construction. Thus Option C is not relevant.

Option D:
An airport project was not proposed in this forested area. The key threat was flooding from a reservoir,so Option D does not match the historical facts.