Noted environmentalist Prof M K Prasad, a prominent figure in the historic grassroots level movement to save the evergreen tropical rain forests in Kerala's Silent Valley from destruction, passed away on Monday morning, his colleagues said.
He breathed his last at a private hospital while undergoing treatment for Covid related complications, they said.
Prasad, 89, is survived by his wife and two children. His cremation was held at a crematorium in Ravipuram.
An all-time source of energy for environmental activists, Prasad gave effective leadership to a progressive people's science movement called "Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishath" (KSSP).
As the lead activist of KSSP, Prasad was a guiding force behind the national movement against the state government's move to set up a hydro-power project in Silent Valley in Palakkad district in the 1970s.
Under the leadership of Prasad, KSSP effectively worked on the ground and aroused public opinion on the requirement to save Silent Valley.
Bowing to unrelenting pressure from ecologists, the government was forced to abandon the project.
The struggle was called off in 1983 after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assured that Silent Valley forests will be protected.
The Silent Valley forests were declared as a national park by the Union Government on November 15, 1984.
Prasad, who held various academic positions in Kerala, including the post of Pro Vice Chancellor of Calicut University and Principal of Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, has also authored numerous books in Malayalam on environmental issues and popular science.
He also chaired the All India People's Science Network (AIPSN), an all-India consortium of people's science movements.
Prasad also served on the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board for five years.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise of Prasad recalling his contributions as a leader of ecological movements.
Former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly V D Satheesan also condoled the demise of Prasad.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
In Pics: This Is How A Hill Made Of 650,000 Cigarette Butts Looks Like Watch: BJP Man Sticks PM's Photo On Billboards Of Tamil Nadu Chess Event In "World's Most Dangerous Country" For Climate Activists, Killings Hit Record Live Updates: 3 Exit Polls Predict BJP Alliance Win In Maharashtra and Jharkhand Man Slashes Teacher's Neck In School. She Had Refused To Marry Him Exit Polls Live: Advantage BJP+ In Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Predict 2 Exit Polls Exit Polls Live: Advantage BJP+ In Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Predict 2 Exit Polls Indian-American Researcher Unveils How Ancient Egyptians Built The Pyramids Shah Rukh Khan Casts Vote In Mumbai Along With Family In Maharashtra Polls Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.