Green Tribunal approached for protecting Western Ghat Eco Sensitive Zones

PANAJI: A group of non-government organisations (NGOs) have approached the National Green Tribunal in Delhi, seeking ban on projects in Eco Sensitive Zones (ESZs) identified by Professor Madhav Gadgil panel in the Western Ghat region.

Five NGOs have pleaded the tribunal that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF), state governments, respective pollution control boards and environment impact assessment authorities should not be allowed to give permission for projects in the ESZ -I and II, identified by the panel.

The Western Ghat Ecology Expert Panel (WWEEP) led by environmentalist Madhav Gadgil had submitted its report to the MOEF in August, last year.

After a delay, the report was kept open for the public this month inviting suggestion.

The report has demarcated ESZs depending on the bio-diversity present in those areas.

The NGOs have said that all the six states through which the Western Ghat passes should respect these ESZs.

National Green Tribunal has issued notices to MOEF and all the six states and the case would be heard on July 25, 2012 when tribunal bench will meet after the vacation.

Five NGOs - Goa Foundation (Goa), Peaceful Society (Goa), Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (Karnataka), River Research Centre (Kerala) and Parisara Samrakshana Kendra (Karnataka)- have filed the petition.

All these organisations were part of Western Ghat Bachao Abhiyaan, a campaign held in 1987-88.