Centre to begin fresh consultations with states on Western Ghats

Millions of Indians living in the six Western Ghat states will have to wait longer before the Centre takes a final call on eco-sensitive areas in the 1,600km long fragile mountain chain. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) is set to initiate a fresh round of consultations with state governments on the contentious issue which has been hanging fire for over two years. The ministry's decision comes even as over the last year all Western Ghats states, except Tamil Nadu, have submitted ground survey reports recommending reduction in eco-sensitive areas. Only Gujarat, which has the least land under eco-sensitive areas, recommended an increase of the protected area.

The state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat and Kerala have recommended that only 19,702.85 sq km of eco-sensitive area (ESA) should be retained as against the 56,825 sq km that was identified by the K Kasturirangan-led committee and as was declared by the Centre in its draft notification. Environment minister Anil Dave said that he has planned to visit all six Western Ghats states to interact with locals. "People want access to roads, water and power. I want to understand the entire subject and hence I will try to meet people residing in these states. We will have a decision within six months," said Dave. Speaking on the state government reports, Dave said, "All reports, including the Gadgil and Kasturirangan report, are a bunch of thoughts and the decision is up to the government."

On Thursday, Dave met with seven Members of Parliament from Western Ghats states including Sharad Pawar, Shashi Tharoor, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and Shiv Sena's Sindhudurg MP Vinayak Raut. Speaking to dna, Raut said, "We have asked the ministry to clarify whether they are going to consider both the Madhav Gadgil committee report and K Kasturirangan committee report or only one of them. Besides, we stressed that the final notification while protecting the environment should be in consonance with the everyday demands of locals."
The ground survey reports that state governments submitted to the ministry are voluminous and were based in part on meetings with Gram Sabhas. If the Centre accepts the recommendations of these reports, 60 per cent of the Ghats will be opened up for development and will affect the water security of millions.