THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The centre on Thursday said the final notification on the conservation of Western Ghats will be issued within six months after taking into consideration the views of all stakeholders. Along with the Kastrurirangan report, the centre would also consider the Madhav Gadgil report before taking a final decision. The assurance came at a meeting of MPs convened by the Centre in Delhi.
The six-month period would be utilised for eliciting the views of people’s representatives, including MPs, MLAs and local bodies' representatives besides other stakeholders. The centre is planning to prepare the final report after arriving at a consensus on all major issues. Idukki MP Joyce George, who attended the meeting, told DC that the Kerala MPs had raised their concerns in one voice.
They reiterated their demand for excluding habitats, plantations, farm lands and townships from the purview of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) as laid down in the Kasturirangan report. The MPs pointed out that regulatory measures can be adopted without giving an elevated protection status to these areas.
“At present there are many laws which are sufficient to protect these areas. Imposing stringent restrictions would only lead to eviction of people and deprive them of their livelihood,” he said. The centre’s stand was as good as reopening the entire issue. “The minister told us that the centre has a 360 degree approach on the issue. It will address the concerns raised by the stakeholders,” he added.
Mr George said instead of the prohibitory approach adopted by the previous UPA government, the present government was for accommodation and wanted to adopt a promotional attitude. Earlier, a delegation of bishops of Syro-Malabar Church met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed concerns over the Kasturirangan report. The bishops sought his intervention to ensure that the provisions of the report, which were detrimental to the interests of the local people, are withdrawn from the final notification.
The delegation demanded that settlement areas, townships and plantations should be excluded from ESA. “We have not demanded the scrapping of the report as it would mean that we are against environment protection. We want the government to strike a balance between environment protection and people’s interests,” said a Church leader.
The Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and said he was aware of the issue. He said an amicable solution would be found after talking to all stakeholders. The delegation comprised Archbishop Mar George Njaralakatt of Bishop of Thalassery, Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, Bishop of Faridabad and Archbishop Remigiose Inchananiyil, Bishop of Thamarassery.
