The government has issued a draft notification to declare over 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). The notification comes amid recent landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, and invites suggestions within 60 days.
Coimbatore: The central government has issued a draft notification to declare over 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). This move includes 13 villages in Kerala's Wayanad district, which recently experienced devastating landslides resulting in over 300 deaths.
The draft notification, issued on July 31, seeks to establish consensus among six states - Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, and Gujarat. It proposes to include 449 sq km 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 in the ESA.
A five-member committee, headed by Dr Sanjay Kumar, former Director General and Special Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is working on creating an eco-sensitive area framework. The committee aims to gain consensus from all stakeholders on infrastructure issues and biodiversity protection in the Western Ghats.
The draft notification proposes a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining in the ESA. It also suggests phasing out existing mines within five years from the date of the final notification or upon the expiry of existing mining leases, whichever is earlier.
Additionally, the notification restricts new and expansion projects of building and construction with built-up areas of 20,000 square metres and above. It also prohibits new and expansion townships and area development projects with an area of 50 hectares and above or with built-up areas of 1,50,000 square metres and above.
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity globally, has been the subject of conservation efforts for years. In 2011, the Madhav Gadgil committee recommended declaring 64% of the Western Ghats as eco-sensitive areas. Later, in 2013, the Dr K Kasturirangan committee reduced this to 37%.
The current draft notification is an attempt to balance conservation needs with development concerns. The government has invited suggestions and objections on the draft within 60 days. The five-member committee is expected to submit its final recommendations to the government by September, unless an extension is granted.
As the process unfolds, the main challenge remains achieving consensus among the six states involved. Many states have expressed concerns regarding the inclusion and exclusion of certain areas within their jurisdictions, making the task of reaching an agreement on the new draft and formula particularly challenging for the panel.
The draft notification, issued on July 31, seeks to establish consensus among six states - Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, and Gujarat. It proposes to include 449 sq km 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 in the ESA.
A five-member committee, headed by Dr Sanjay Kumar, former Director General and Special Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is working on creating an eco-sensitive area framework. The committee aims to gain consensus from all stakeholders on infrastructure issues and biodiversity protection in the Western Ghats.
The draft notification proposes a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining in the ESA. It also suggests phasing out existing mines within five years from the date of the final notification or upon the expiry of existing mining leases, whichever is earlier.
Additionally, the notification restricts new and expansion projects of building and construction with built-up areas of 20,000 square metres and above. It also prohibits new and expansion townships and area development projects with an area of 50 hectares and above or with built-up areas of 1,50,000 square metres and above.
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity globally, has been the subject of conservation efforts for years. In 2011, the Madhav Gadgil committee recommended declaring 64% of the Western Ghats as eco-sensitive areas. Later, in 2013, the Dr K Kasturirangan committee reduced this to 37%.
The current draft notification is an attempt to balance conservation needs with development concerns. The government has invited suggestions and objections on the draft within 60 days. The five-member committee is expected to submit its final recommendations to the government by September, unless an extension is granted.
As the process unfolds, the main challenge remains achieving consensus among the six states involved. Many states have expressed concerns regarding the inclusion and exclusion of certain areas within their jurisdictions, making the task of reaching an agreement on the new draft and formula particularly challenging for the panel.