WG: Meeting of states to be convened this month, says Minister

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said a meeting of Western Ghat-range states would be convened by this month to take a final call on demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) in the hills.
He said all state governments, except Tamil Nadu, have submitted their proposals regarding demarcation of ESAs.
Since Kerala and Tamil Nadu are heading for Assembly polls early this year, the Ministry will expedite the process and a meeting of all the Western Ghat range states -- Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu -- will be convened in February itself, he told reporters here.
"Tamil Nadu government has not given its proposal. Other governments have given the proposal which we are processing. We will have meetings of all the state governments in February itself. And we will have detailed discussions on the proposals...," he said.

The Minister said the government is for ensuring sustainable development without destroying national heritage in the hills. "We want to protect environment but also to ensure development. There should not be problem for the people," he said.
It was in 2010, the Environment Ministry constituted an expert panel headed by eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil to identify ESAs in Western Ghats.

In its report, the Gadgil panel had suggested division of the hills into many ecologically sensitive zones, which were opposed by states.
Considering the concerns of the states, a panel under eminent scientist K Kasturirangan was constituted and it diluted the Gadgil panel declaring only 37 per cent (60,000 hectares) of hills as ecological sensitive.

However, some state governments including Kerala objected to the recommendations of the Kasturirangan panel report also.
Considering their demand, the Environment Ministry allowed ground verification by states itself.