Relief for Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg projects

Almost three years after the union environment ministry imposed a moratorium on new projects in the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, the high level working group headed by scientist K Kasturirangan has recommended a lift on the freeze with some riders.

Almost three years after the union environment ministry imposed a moratorium on new projects in the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, the high level working group headed by scientist K Kasturirangan has recommended a lift on the freeze with some riders.

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At present, power projects of about 35,000 megawatts are proposed in the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts apart from mining projects. Only the eastern parts of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts fall within the Western Ghats.

According to the report, the sites in the two districts that fall under eco-sensitive areas (ESA) will have to follow restrictions imposed on sectors such as energy, agriculture and land use as per the set regulations.

While development projects located within 10km of the Western Ghats ESA will require environment clearance as per rules, forest and environment rules will continue to be applicable in areas outside ESA but within the Ghats.

“In order to ensure that development projects do not adversely impact the environmental balance of the two districts, the MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) should monitor on a regular basis the cumulative impact of projects, which may come up in these districts and take policy decisions at appropriate time based on such findings,” states the report.

“It is a well-meaning report that has balanced economic pressures with the need for conservation. If implemented in honesty, it will set the benchmark for conservation in India,” said Stalin D of Vanashakti that has ongoing petition in the Bombay High Court to declare the wildlife corridor in Sawantwadi-Dodamarg as an ESA.

Going against representations against the ban on mining on the availability of laterite stone used for local building purposes in the two districts, the report has stated that it cannot make an exception for laterite stone to be mined in an ESA.