Govt points fifth draft notification to declare Western Ghats as ecologically delicate space

The Centre has issued a fifth draft notification to declare over 56,800 sq. kilometres of the Western Ghats throughout six states, together with 13 villages in Kerala’s landslide-hit Wayanad, Ecologically Delicate Space (ESA), inviting options and objections inside 60 days.

The notification was issued on July 31, a day after a sequence of landslides in Wayanad district killed over 290 folks.

• Learn: Wayanad landslides: That are the landslide-prone areas in India

The draft notification proposes to declare 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala, together with 13 villages in two talukas of the landslide-hit district, ecologically delicate.

Total, the notification contains 449 sq km in Gujarat, 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra, 1,461 sq km in Goa, 20,668 sq km in Karnataka, 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu, and 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala within the proposed ESA.

• Learn:Kerala can’t settle for Gadgil report on Western Ghats: CM

The draft notification suggests an entire ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining, with current mines to be phased out inside 5 years “from the date of problem of the ultimate notification or on the expiry of the prevailing mining lease, whichever is earlier”.

It additionally prohibits new thermal energy tasks. Present tasks can proceed to function, however enlargement just isn’t allowed.

• Learn: River diversion tasks are completely undesirable, says ecologist Madhav Gadgil

Massive-scale development tasks and townships are additionally prohibited, aside from repairing and renovating current buildings.