Expedite final ESA, ESZ notifications for Western Ghats, NGT tells Centre
National Green Tribunal
(NGT) has directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to expedite the process and publish the final notifications of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) and zones (ESZs) in the Western Ghats, particularly in states such as Kerala and Karnataka, where urgent action is warranted.
The southern bench of NGT, while hearing a suo motu case on the 2024 Wayanad landslides, expressed concern that nearly a year had passed since the disaster, but little progress had been made on the notifications. Landslides in the Meppadi hills on July 30, 2024had buried entire villages — Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala and Noolpuzha — under massive debris, claiming 298 lives and causing extensive damage to property.
The counsel for the environment ministry submitted that the final ESZ notification would be issued before August. The case has been posted for further hearing on Aug 11.
Kerala govt has demarcated 8,711.98 sq km as ESA across 98 villages and submitted the details to the Centre. Idukki district accounts for the highest number of such villages (28), followed by Palakkad (13), Wayanad (12) and Malappuram (10).
During the hearing, the NGT observed that the Western Ghats is a significant geological formation along India's west coast.
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As the cradle of biological evolution, the Ghats support a population of around 50 million people, with high population density in some areas. It emphasised the need to conserve and protect the region's unique biodiversity, while allowing for sustainable and inclusive development, especially in areas prone to or highly susceptible to landslides.
The NGT noted that comprehensive studies conducted by Madhav Gadgil and K Kasturirangan may be relied upon. It urged the MoEF&CC to prioritise states such as Kerala and Karnataka and to ensure the early publication of the final ESA and ESZ notifications.
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