Thiruvananthapuram, 25 June (H.S.):The Kerala government has decided to approach the Centre seeking the complete exclusion of human habitations and agricultural lands from the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Western Ghats, amid growing concerns over the impact of the draft notification on lakhs of residents in the state's high-range districts.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by State Electricity and Environment Minister Sunny Joseph on Thursday. The meeting resolved to formally convey the state government's position and the concerns of the Environment Department to the Union government regarding the proposed ESZ boundaries.
The move comes in the wake of reports that the Centre has decided to include inhabited areas in the Western Ghats within the ambit of the proposed ESZ notification, triggering apprehension among residents and political parties over possible restrictions on land use and development.
The meeting also decided to invite members of the expert committee recently constituted by the Union government to Kerala for discussions on the state's recommendations. The committee was set up to examine Kerala's proposals based on local-level studies conducted following the submission of the Oommen V. Oommen Committee report, which reviewed the state's ecological and habitation concerns.
State officials said the discussions with the expert panel would focus on ensuring that Kerala's interests are protected while finalising the ESZ boundaries. The government has consistently argued that densely populated settlements and cultivated lands should not be brought under the eco-sensitive zone, as such a move would adversely affect the livelihoods of people living in the hilly regions.
A follow-up meeting, chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, has been scheduled for June 30 to decide on the next course of action. Ministers handling the Forest and Environment portfolios, senior government officials, Environment Secretary M.G. Rajamanikyam IAS, and senior officers of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change are expected to attend.
The issue has gained political significance after the CPI(M) recently alleged that the Centre had rejected Kerala's request to exclude 31 villages entirely and 92 villages partially in Idukki and Wayanad districts from the proposed ESZ limits. The party warned that the Centre's decision could seriously affect the lives and livelihoods of lakhs of people residing in the state's hill districts.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
