Centre’s stand on Western Ghats angers greens

Kochi: The assurance by Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar that the Centre will ensure that the provisions on the ecologically sensitive areas in the Environment Protection Act will be imposed only on forest land and that there will be no restriction on businesses, growth and developmental projects in the Western Ghats has evoked sharp reactions from environment activists even as the residents in the region heaved a sigh of relief.

Prof Madhav Gadgil, who wrote the first comprehensive report on the need and ways on protecting the Western Ghats, said the reported move is complete reversal of the constitutional responsibility to protect the environment. “We prepared our report with provisions for the active involvement of the people,” he told Deccan Chronicle over phone.

“In fact, people in several states came forward demanding ESA status, seeing the advantage they would get. The people of Kerala are unlikely to think otherwise, if they have been told the whole story. We in fact insisted on making the report in Malayalam.”

Environmental activist Harish Vasudevan said it is ridiculous if the government excludes private land from the provisions of ESA. “If the government goes ahead with the proposal, then it will reduce the law into a farce.”

Though the minister said commercial mining will be banned, the government has shown no inclination to specify the area of mines, leaving loopholes for the vested interests, he said.

High Range Protection Council leader Joice George who represents Idukki in the Lok Sabha, however, welcomed the move saying this was what the people of the area wanted.

“We are ready to work with the government on environmental protection, he said. “But such projects should have the informed consent of the people and the government should ensure their participation.”