Veerappa Moily gives no timeline for implementing Western Ghats reports

NEW DELHI: Environment Minister Veerappa Moily today refused to give a timeline for issuing a fresh notification for implementation of a controversial report on Western Ghats which has become a contentious issue among six affected states.

The government had earlier directed the state governments not to allow activities like minings, quarrying and industries falling under red category after apprehension was raised about the impact on the ecologically sensitive areas.

"How can I give a timeline. We need to seriously examine. They (the states) have their own expert committee. We know the emergency and the seriousness of the things. Decisions cannot be taken immediately," he said.

Moily told this to reporters when asked about Kerala Chief Minister's comments earlier today that the Centre would issue notification in two days.

A major controversy had erupted last year by the implementation of the Kasturirangan committee recommendations which was seen by locals as prohibiting even plantation activities in the Western Ghats.

Environment Secretary R Rajagopalan made it clear that as far as regulatory activities are concerned, "we are not reviewing".

He said the main objection from the states are about demarcation and about people living in those areas.

The committee's report was implemented during the tenure of Moily's predecessor Jayanthi Natarajan, who was forced to issue a clarification, just a day before her sudden exit from the Ministry.

The 1600 km long Western Ghats pass through Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Moily said the six states have formed their own expert committees who are examining the report.

Senior officials from Kerala including the chairman of the biodiversity board and the state forest secretary were here for a discussion today with Moily today even as the issue has generated a lot of heat in Kerala politics with the church backed Kerala Congress party, which is a key ally of UDF threatening to take a tough stand before the Lok Sabha polls.

The Minister replied in negative to another question on whether there was any directive from the PMO that projects worth Rs 500 crore or less need not have to go through environmental clearances.