New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has exempted 3,115 square kilometers (sq km) of land in the Western Ghats falling in Kerala from regulations that are binding on ecologically sensitive areas (ESA). The Kasturirangan panel had recommended that 13,108 sq km of land be notified as ESA, but it has now been whittled down to 9,993.7 sq km in the ministry's order that amends an order of 2013.
As the 3,115 sq. km land at the Western Ghats in the state gets the exemption from tough eco regulations, the areas open up for construction and industries.
The previous UDF government led by Oommen Chandy had approved in principle the ESA limit of 9,993.7 sq km, making it clear in a draft notification issued on March 10, 2014. However, a final notification was not issued.
The Kasturirangan report of April 15, 2013, had specified that a total of 59,940 sq km land in six states need to remain under ESA provisions. It listed the area in Kerala as 13,108 sq km. The order issued on November 13 the same year was based on this recommendation.
The Oommen V. Oommen panel appointed by the state government did a direct survey and decided that only 9993.7 sq km land need to be brought under ESA in Kerala. Out of this 9,107 sq km are in the forest areas and 886.7 sq km in non-forest areas. The panel recommended 3,115 sq km less than the area set by the Kasturirangan panel. All four draft notifications issued so far carry this limit.
Apart from the state government, members of parliament Joyce George and Anto Antony and Professional Congress state president Mathew Kuzhalnadan held several rounds of discussions with the Union environment minister.
The decision to amend the order of 2013 follows such discussions. In effect, it rejects the Kasturirangan report on the ESA limits in Kerala and accepts the state government's stand.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among those who had directly appealed to the environment minister to revise the ESA limit in Kerala. The ESA covers 123 villages in the state. Pinarayi, in a letter sent to the Centre in May 2017, had asked for exemption to the villages of Poonjar Thekkekara, Koottikkal, Theekoyi and Melukav in Kottayam district. He also sought complete exemption for non-forest areas and suggested that villages be not listed as basic units.
The Centre says it will consider all these demands in the final notification. It hasn't considered demands raised by Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Controls that will go
Ban will now be lifted on several activities in 3,115 sq km area in several villages in the Western Ghats in the state. These include: mining, quarries, sand mining, building thermal power station, construction of buildings and other structures with a minimum plinth area of 20,000 square metres, townships or regional development projects within a minimum 50 hectares of land and 1.5 lakh square metre construction, and red industries.
