Draft to declare Eco Sensitive Zone in Western Zone soon: Dave

The draft to declare Eco Sensitive Zone in Western Ghats is likely to be finalized within six months, Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave today said while asserting that he will hold consultations with local people by visiting the region.

"The Western Ghats are of great concern to the entire country especially on the issue of climate change. Within six months we will come out with complete plan. We will put it in public domain. I will myself visit Western ghats. I will talk to scheduled tribes residing there. Talking to common people is very important," Dave said.

This comes a day after the Environment Minister chaired a meeting with MPs from Western Ghats region and called for maintaining a balance between ecology and development while asserting that his Ministry will hold the widest possible consultations before arriving at a conclusion.
 

Dave said that his Ministry will keep on consultation on all the issues raised by the states and will try to do "the best" on the issue.

"Suggestion from all the states will be taken. All states have different problems. Kerala has a separate problem and so does Maharashtra. From extreme North to South of the Western Ghats, its one unit but it has different characteristics.

"Where-ever we stand today, we will (carry forward) further consultations. There was a complaint that the Ministry has not heard the states. We want to hear everybody," he said adding that Tamil Nadu government wanted him to visit the state and hold consultations.

Asked about the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committee reports, he said that all such reports are thoughts from a group of thinkers and scientists and it is upto the government to accept it completely or reject it.

Dave said villagers and tribal people living in the region must have access to infrastructure, roads, power and drinking water.

The Ministry had published a Draft notification for declaring Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) of Western Ghats, on September 4, 2015, with the objective to conserve and protect the unique biodiversity of Western Ghats.

The Western Ghat region comprises areas under Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Gujarat and Kerala.