Field survey of Western Ghats in Maharashtra soon: Prakash Javadekar

PUNE: A "ground truthing" exercise to ascertain if the satellite imagery of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra matches the conditions on the ground will soon be undertaken, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said here today.

The minister, who held a meeting with forest officers from 12 districts in the state which fall in the eco-sensitive zone, told reporters that the exercise will help achieve a balance between developmental and environment protection concerns.

Javadekar also said that he will discuss the proposed ground truthing with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and the exercise in Maharashtra should be over by December.

The data in the reports on Western Ghat ecology submitted by the Kasturirangan and Gadgil committees was mainly based on the satellite imagery, so ground truthing was needed, he said.

Javadekar also informed that the ministries of Urban Development, Highways and Defence will coordinate with each other to facilitate works of road widening, railway over-bridges and fly-overs on the Defence lands.