NGT ordered that Western Ghats notification demarcating 56,825 sq.km as eco-sensitive should be finalized within six months
The Centre is again going to consult six the Western Ghats to form a consensus on the draft notification that has demarcated 56,825 sq.kms as ecologically sensitive area (ESA) across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, DNA has learnt.
This comes in the backdrop of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order on August 24 directing the Centre to republish the draft notification of the Western Ghats that lapsed on August 26 and finalise the matter within six months without alterations to the ESA area.
Alterations in ESA areas would seriously impact the environment and, therefore, should not be allowed, NGT said in view of Kerala floods. This would be the fourth time that the draft notification needs to be republished since 2014.
The Tribunal's order has put onus on the Centre to ensure that no ESA is reduced but it is an uphill task as earlier in April; Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra had submitted proposals to reduce extent of their ESA areas.
Karnataka, meanwhile, raised several objections to the Kasturirangan report, which is the basis of the draft notification. Goa and Gujarat did not submit any proposal.
in April, Kerala proposed that 9107 sq.km should be marked ESA instead of 9,993.7 sq.km; Maharashtra proposed that its ESA area be reduced from 17,340 sq.km to 15,613 sq.km and Tamil Nadu said that 6665.47 sq.km should be declared ESA instead of 6914 sq.km.
The draft notification bans all mining, new thermal plants, red category of severely polluting industries and building and construction projects of 20,000 sq.km and above. Karnataka has raised concerns about the total ban on sand mining and quarrying and also on the process adopted to identify villages as ESA's.
Officials from the state governments of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala told DNA that they were yet to review the NGT order and would await instructions from the Centre regarding further consultations. Those privies to developments said that consultations were imperative as the states have to enforce the recommendations of the draft notification.
Officials from the Karnataka government told DNA that it has already carried out extensive ground surveys based on the Kasturirangan report before submitting its concerns, which are yet to address.
"The Kasturirangan report also speaks on providing incentives to states in lieu of the restrictions it has imposed on certain activities such as mining, constructions and tourism. We have the largest area under ESA so it is imperative that our concerns are addressed," sources from the Karnataka government said.
Kerala government officials said they after verifying maps with the actual ground situation, the ESA area should actually be reduced to 8,650 sq.km while officials from Maharashtra government said that there is no change in the proposal they submitted in April.
—With inputs from Sanjay Jog
Mountain chain a heritage site
The 1,600 km-long Western Ghats mountain chain is a UNESCO heritage site as it is home to hundreds of endemic animals and plants. It covers the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat, across approximately 1,40,000 sq km.
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