State to file views on declaring Ghats sensitive zone

The State government will file its views to a notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests that proposes to declare 37 per cent of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).

The notification seeks to ban mining, quarrying, thermal power plants and red-category industries in these zones after public consultations and discussions in the legislature.

The draft notification is based on the report of a High-Level Working Group (HLWG) headed by Planning Commission member K Kasturirangan, constituted by the ministry to study and make recommendations on how to protect, preserve the rich biodiversity and environmental integrity of the Western Ghats.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday, Jayachandra said that developmental activities in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Hassan, among others through which Western Ghats passes would be adversely affected if the recommendations are accepted in their present form.

“We will debate on the issue extensively in the Belgaum legislature session and forward our views to the notification to the MoEF. The view of the public will also be presented to the ministry,” Jayachandra said. The issue will also be discussed in the State Cabinet, he said.

The notification which has been hosted on the MoEF website gives a list of state-wise, district-wise and taluk-wise villages in the ESA in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Besides banning activities such as mining, the quarrying and the setting up of thermal power plants and other high-polluting industries will also be prohibited in these areas.

The building and construction projects of 20,000 sq metres and above and township and area development projects with an area of 50 hectares and above or with builtup area of 1,50,000 sq metres and above will also be prohibited. Hydro-electric power projects will be allowed but subject to stringent conditions.

Other parameters

Projects and activities which are not specifically prohibited under the ESA shall have to be scrutinised and assessed for cumulative impact and development needs, before granting environment clearance. The HLWG had identified 37 per cent (60,000 sq km) of the Western Ghats as ESA.

The ESA also includes Protected Areas and World Heritage Sites of the Western Ghats.