Fresh draft notification on Western Ghats

NEW DELHI: The government has issued a fresh draft notification on Western Ghats which addresses all the concerns expressed by the six states falling in the region, the Rajya Sabha was told today.

"The Ministry has brought out a fresh draft notification on September 4, 2015 on Western Ghats addressing these concerns and apprehensions wherein the extent of Ecologically Sensitive Area ( ESA) and the other provisions stated in the earlier draft notification remain unchanged," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in a written reply.

The Ministry had issued a draft notification on March 10, 2014 for notifying an area of 56,825 sq.km as ESA in the Western Ghats covering six states with an aim of conserving the biodiversity of the region while providing adequate opportunities for livlihood security of the local people.

Javadekar said the ministry had also convened a meeting with state environment and forest ministers of Western Ghat region to review the progress of demarcation of ESA by physical verification by various states and also to address apprehensions expressed by governments and stakeholders.

The ministry had reassured that nothing substantial is going to change with the ESA in Western Ghats as far as livelihoods and day-to-day activities of locals are concerned and there would no dislocation of people.

"Habitations plantations and agricultural activities will also not be affected in the ESA due to the provisions contained in the draft notification," Javadekar said.