Centre issues fresh draft notification to declare Western Ghats eco-sensitive
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 3
The Centre has again issued a fresh draft notification to declare over 56,825.7 square kilometres of the Western Ghats spanning across six states — including 13 villages in Kerala’s landslide-hit Wayanad — an ecologically sensitive area (ESA), inviting suggestions and objections within 60 days.
The new notification is based on the suggestions made by an expert panel set up in April 2022. The notification proposes to declare 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala as ecologically sensitive.
Periya, Thirunelli, Thondernad, Thrissilery, Kidanganad and Noolpuzha in the Mananthavady taluka; and Achooranam, Chundel, Kottappadi, Kunnathidavaka, Pozhuthana, Thariyod and Vellarimala in the Vythiri taluka have been recommended to be declared as ecologically sensitive in Kerala.
The July 30 landslides affected Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala villages in the Vythiri taluka, which do not figure in the draft notification. The draft includes 449 sq km area in Gujarat, 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra, 1,461 sq km in Goa, 20,668 sq km in Karnataka, 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu, and 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala to be declared as ecologically sensitive.
In the last 10 years, the Environment Ministry has issued six draft notifications to declare ecologically sensitive zones in the six states where the Western Ghats are spread.
The draft notification suggests a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining, with existing mines to be phased out within five years “from the date of issue of the final notification or on the expiry of the existing mining lease, whichever is earlier”.
It prohibits new thermal power projects and states that existing projects can continue to operate, but no expansion will be allowed. All ‘red’ category industries (highly polluting), specified by the pollution control boards, and their expansion shall be banned, it said. Large-scale construction projects and townships are also proposed to be prohibited, with exceptions for the repair and renovation of existing buildings. Previously, ecologist Madhav Gadgil and K Kasturirangan had submitted reports to the Centre on Western Ghats.
