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Goa, Karnataka oppose Centre’s draft Western Ghats eco sensitive rules
Declaring Western Ghats as ESA would regulate certain human activities including mining and constructions among others, that many say pose a threat to fragile ecosystems
The Centre’s draft notification of the ecologically sensitive area (ESA) in the Western Ghats has triggered fresh protests in Karnataka, Kerala and Goa over concerns that it may adversely affect the livelihood of people in these regions.
The proposed regulation aims to demarcate 46,821sq kms of land as ESA in states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat. Of this, about 20,000 sq kms is in Karnataka, 1,461 sq kms in Goa and 17,340 in Maharashtra. The notification does not provide eco zone area for Kerala.
While the Karnataka government has raised concerns over the economic impact of such a move, Goa alleged the draft proposal was prepared “without a plan in place”. Several protests have been held in Kerala against the resolution.
Ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators from Karnataka’s Malnad region on Monday passed a resolution, under the leadership of home minister Araga Jnanendra, opposing the ministry’s draft regulation.
“The regulation will hinder people’s right to development in the region,” Jnanendra said.
The Karnataka government has already rejected the Kasturirangan committee report and has repeatedly asserted that it will not allow ESA in the concerned area, he added.
In 2010, an expert panel constituted by then Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh and headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil, had recommended declaring 126,000 sq kms in these six states as ESAs.
Following opposition by the states, the Centre in 2011 constituted another panel headed by space scientist K Kasturirangan, which reduced the ESA area to 58,825 sq kms.
Kasturirangan’s proposal was further rejected by states, prompting the environment ministry in 2012 to further reduce the ESA to the present limit.
In January this year, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) gave the environment ministry six months to notify the zone for biodiversity rich Western Ghats, following which on July 10, the ministry issued a draft notification, seeking response from states on the proposed regulation.
The Kasturirangan report of 2013 had recommended 20,668 sq km of ESA in Karnataka.
Implementing the draft rules will lead to severe economic distress in the region falling under Karnataka, Jnanendra’s office said in a statement.
Similarly, Deviya Rane, who heads the Goa Forest Corporation and represents Poriem constituency, said the Goa government will oppose the ESA in villages of the state along the Western Ghats and will file objections needed to be submitted within the period of 60 days since the draft proposal has been prepared “without a plan in place.”
Deviya and her husband and forest minister Vishwajit Rane represent the two (Poriem and Valpoi) constituencies that make up the Sattari taluka along the state’s frontier with Karnataka. This area includes the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, which is covered under the proposed Western Ghat regulation.
As many as 55 of 99 villages notified as eco-sensitive in the Centre’s draft fall in areas represented by Deviya and Rane.
“I, along with my other colleagues whose constituencies are affected, and people of Sattari will make sure these objections are raised and reach the highest authority as per procedures laid to file objections,” Deviya said.
Protests against the draft rules on the Western Ghats have been held in at least three districts of Kerala so far. Several areas in Idukki, Wayanad and Pathanamthitta have also observed a shutdown several times.
On July 14, Kerala forest minister A K Saseendran met Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav to oppose the regulation.
“I had a fruitful discussion with the Union minister. I apprised him about the ground situation in the state and he has promised to visit the state on August 10,” Saseendran had said.
The Kerala assembly had passed a unanimous resolution, seeking the Centre’s intervention to exempt human habitats and agricultural land from the purview of the recent directive.
The resolution also dealt with the June 3 order of the Supreme Court, asking the state to declare one km around all protected areas, including national parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries, as a buffer zone and ban all developmental activities.
The state is home to 24 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Around 25,000 families are expected to face eviction if the ESA is implemented, according to protesters.
Several ecologists, mainly from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, have moved the Supreme Court, seeking implementation of the report submitted by the Gadgil-led panel.
According to Gadgil, the Western Ghats are fast losing its ecological value because of its rampant development. “We need a stringent ESA and not the water down version,” he said, adding that it was feasible to implement his recommendations as they are based on inputs from people on the ground.
Goa Foundation, a non-government organization, director Claude Alvares said at least 50 million people are directly and 200 million people are indirectly dependent on the Western Ghats and its ecology.
“The future of entire southern India is intimately linked with the healthy survival of the Western Ghats. The governments have abjectly failed to do justice to the Western Ghats, despite being empowered to do so,” he said, in his recent petition in the Supreme Court.
The states are protesting as declaring the Western Ghats as ESA would help regulate certain human activities, including mining and construction, which may pose a threat to the fragile ecosystems, experts said.
“Forest cover is shrinking alarmingly and Western Ghats are suffering due to human incursions. We need a strong green zone to ensure passage of wild animals,” Wayanad-based green activist N Badusha said.
