Unable to reach at any final conclusion over extent of Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in Western Ghats within stipulated time frame, the Center has come out with a fresh draft notification proposing 56,825 sq. kms area as 'no go' zone for high polluting human activities like mining, quarrying, big constructions, thermal power plants and certain types of industries. The draft, released by the environment ministry in New Delhi recently, will delay the final notification by two more months as it gave stakeholders sixty days to forward their suggestions. The ministry will take its call after going through objections, if any, of the states - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Though five states are more or less agreed to the earmarked ESA, the delay is mainly attributed to the stand taken by kerala which wants reduction of the area fall under 'no go' zone.
Kerala had undertaken exercise of demarcating ESA by physical verification and found that 886.7 sq. kms. out of total 9993.7 sq. kms. of the area is non-forest land. The state, therefore, wants the ministry should leave out the non-forest land (886.7 sq. kms.) from the zone demarcated as the ESA. Since final notification of the ESA within the Western Ghats was supposed to be issued within 545 days of the last draft notification of 04th September, 2015, the ministry had to, in any case, come out with a fresh draft to beat the deadline. It is, in fact, third such draft notification. The first one, comprising of curtailed ESA, was issued in March, 2014. Initially, the government wanted area of 59,940 sq. kms. (roughly 37 percent of the Western Ghats) as a 'no-go' zone.
The draft, carries village-wise details of the ESA and their maps within the Western Ghats, identified all the non-polluting activities which would not be allowed once the ministry comes out with a final notification. The idea of 'no-go' zone - ESA - was conceived to protect the unique bio-diversity of the Western Ghats which is home to a variety of endemic species of flora and fauna, wetlands and riverine ecosystems. The UNESCO has even included certain identified parts of Western Ghats in its 'World Natural Heritage' list because it is centre of origin of many species.
"Since the Western Ghats also supports a population of approximately fifty million people and includes areas of high human population density, we don't want to take a final call without taking all stakeholders on board. There is a need to conserve and protect its unique biodiversity while allowing the sustainable and inclusive development of the region", said an official while responding to a question of delay in issuing final notification. He said, "Once it is notified, high polluting human activities will not be allowed within the ESA. It will not affect agriculture and plantation activities of the people in the Western Ghats. Their normal businesses and other non-polluting activities will also not get adversely affected". [Times of India dated 03rd March, 2017].
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