HC raps Centre for indecision over Western Ghats report

The Bombay high court, on Tuesday, rapped the Centre for failing to take a decision on a report submitted by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel in connection with the conservation measures in the Sahyadri range.

The Bombay high court, on Tuesday, rapped the Centre for failing to take a decision on a report submitted by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel in connection with the conservation measures in the Sahyadri range.

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A division bench headed by justice DD Sinha asked the central government why it had failed to take decision on implementation of the report despite earlier directions on June 12.

The panel headed by Madhav Gadgil had made recommendations on conserving and preserving ecologically sensitive areas within the Sahyadri range. The Maharashtra government forwarded its views on the panel's recommendations to the Centre on January 25 this year. However, the Central government has still not taken any specific decision on the same.

The state government informed the court that it is not issuing new mining leases in the eco-sensitive area until a final decision was taken on the Western Ghats ecology report.

The court was hearing a petition filed by city-based NGO Awaaz Foundation seeking that the central government should be directed to declare the Sawantwadi-Doddamarg wildlife corridor in Sindhudurg district as ecologically sensitive. The NGO has raised concerns of rapid degradation of bio-diversity reserves within the corridor.