With the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) releasing the draft notification regarding the Kasturirangan report on its website on Tuesday, the state government plans to follow suit by publishing area-specific details of the 123 villages marked as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) by the end of this week.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy said on Tuesday that the state biodiversity board would begin the process of fine-tuning and implementation of ecologically-sensitive areas (ESAs) as per the guidelines issued in the draft notification by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF).
They Fall Under Ecological-Sensitive Zone-1 Classified By Gadgil Report
Thiruvananthapuram: The state nominated three-member expert committee that reviewed the Kasturirnagan committee report has highlighted the need to protect the ecologically-fragile areas that were overlooked in the Kasturiranagan report.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday disagreed with the demand made by the Kerala Congress(M) and others for cancellation of the order issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on November 13 last year for protection of the Western Ghats.
Speaking to the media after a special meeting of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister said that annulment of the order would result in reinstatement of the recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil committee on the Western Ghats.
Decision comes on the eve of poll schedule announcement
Habitations, plantations and agricultural areas in the 123 villages falling within the Western Ghat eco-sensitive area will be taken off the protective zone as demanded by the Kerala government.
Union Minister for Environment and Forests M Veerappa Moily said on Wednesday that the Centre had dropped the Madhav Gadgil Report on protection of the Western Ghats and other forest areas.
‘An impression is being given that it recommended halting economic activities’
The report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, which was submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2011, continues to be misinterpreted by political parties and governments in Kerala, Goa and Maharashtra, ecologist Madhav Gadgil has said.
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil on Sunday said the report prepared by the Western Ghats ecology expert panel (WGEEP) has been misinterpreted by vested interests.
Speaking on the sidelines of the State-level seminar on saving Western Ghats, Gadgil said: “Rumours are rife that if our report is implemented, development will lag behind.
