Govt demarcates 1,721 villages as ecologically fragile and strictly bans mining, quarrying & sand excavation in them
Floods in Kerala have brought to the fore the almost forgotten Kasturirangan committee report on the Western Ghats that had made few recommendations to balance development and environment protection, by watering down the environmental regulation regime.
In the wake of Kerala floods, Maharashtra government has decided to implement these recommendations in hope to avoid crisis, if any. The state government demarcated 1,721 villages as ecologically fragile land under the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and strictly banned highly polluting industries, thermal power plants and mining, quarrying and sand excavation. The government issued directives way back in November 2013 to 12 collectors of districts under the provisions of Environment Protection Act not to tolerate any deviation and non-compliance.
State Environment Secretary Anil Diggikar told DNA,'' Only agro and food processing units are permitted in the villages falling under ESA while construction is not allowed above 20,000 sq mt. Township development is not permitted.'' He informed that existing mines will be closed down in phases and no new mining lease will be issued.
Another officer from the environment department said unlike Kerala the Maharashtra government did not rush for changes in the villages earmarked under ESA. The government did not wait for the final notification on inclusion or exclusion of villages by the union ministry of environment and forest but strictly followed the Kasturirangan committee report. The survey of villages is still underway.
"The government provides special grant and incentives for forest management and boost productivity in those villages. The government involves the participation of local villagers in the protection of forests and protection of water sources. Moreover, the organic farming is encouraged and the villagers are provided help to make available new markets for organic products,'' he informed.
The officer said the government lays emphasis on promotion of ecotourism in those villages and provides viability gap funding for short-term loss to local people. ''The government proposes to increase Western Ghat Scheme fund to Rs 1,000 crore with the contribution from the Centre. In addition to this, the government has set up Decision Support and Monitoring Centre to lend technical support for the environment protection in ESAs,'' he added.
Chess wiz gives prize money
While people from all over country are doing their bit to help the flood victims, Mumbai’s chess prodigy Suhaani Lohia’s kind gesture has warmed our hearts. The 9-year-old who is Mumbai’s first Woman Candidate Master, donated her prize-money of Rs 23,000, to the CM’s Relief Fund.
Student of Dhirubhai Ambani School, she made history when she became one of the youngest rated chess players last year.
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