15.11.13

Of the Western Ghats....

The ministry of environment and forests has notified nearly 60,000 sqkm of the Western Ghats across six states as an ecologically sensitive area (ESA), making it a no-go zone where mining, quarrying, setting up of thermal power plants and other polluting industries will be banned with immediate effect.
Construction projects of 20,000 sq meters area and above, and township and area development projects with an area of 50 hectares and above or with built up area of 1,50,000 sq meters and above will be prohibited in these areas. Hydro-electric power projects and windmills will, however, be allowed in the ESA under strict green norms.
The ministry, in its notification annexed a comprehensive list of state-wise, district-wise and taluka-wise villages in the ESA, asking Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu to implement the order strictly. “In case of any violation, appropriate legal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will be taken,” the notification said.
The ESA — roughly 37% (59,940 sqkm) of the Western Ghats — has been earmarked on the basis of the recommendations of a committee, under the chairmanship of K Kasturirangan, which submitted its report on April 15.

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