Latest news with #EcologicallySensitiveZones
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
NGT asks MoEF to expedite publication of final notification on ESZs
The National Green Tribunal has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to expedite the process and publish the final notifications of the Ecologically Sensitive Areas and Zones, particularly in States where urgent action is warranted. The Southern Bench of the tribunal issued the directive while considering the suo motu case on the massive Wayanad landslides on July 30, 2024. The tribunal has asked the Ministry to rely upon the comprehensive studies on Western Ghats conservation undertaken by ecologist Madhav Gadgil, and the late space scientist K. Kasturirangan. 'The learned counsel appearing for the MoEF&CC states that the final notification regarding Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs) will be filed before August. It is noted with concern that nearly a year has passed since the Wayanad disaster in Kerala,' pointed out an order dated June 20 issued by Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana, Judicial Member, and Dr. Satyagopal Korlapati, Expert Member. Stating that comprehensive studies have already been undertaken by Dr. Madhav Gadgil and Dr. K. Kasturirangan, the Bench asked the Ministry to prioritise the States where urgent action is required with regard to the ESZs and ensure early publication of the final notifications of Ecologically Sensitive Areas and Zones. The Bench had earlier expressed its displeasure over the failure of the authorities to file the reports giving the correct picture on the reasons for the devastating Wayanad landslides. In an order issued on March 28, 2025, the tribunal had warned that it may summon the Chief Secretary of Kerala over the poor response of the authorities. 'We only express our displeasure in the way in which the government authorities are responding to this issue, where hundreds of people have lost their lives, either being killed or missed, in the Wayanad hill station,' it said.
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Uncertainty lingers over land rights on forest fringe settlements despite interventions
Interventions at the highest levels notwithstanding, the dark cloud of uncertainty that is hovering over families living along the fringes of the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) and the Thattekkadu Bird Sanctuary refuses to part — in the absence of a definitive solution regarding their land rights. Acting on the State Wildlife Board's recommendation to redraw the boundaries of the PTR and the bird sanctuary, a committee constituted by the National Board for Wildlife visited Pampavalley and Thattekkadu villages in April this year. Based on these visits, the committee recommended that the State government formulate and implement appropriate guidelines and an action plan in alignment with the Zonal Master Plan mandated for Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) ''to promote sustainable development practices'' in the Thattekkadu and Pampavalley settlement areas. The proposal also requires the State to transfer 502 hectares of forestland from the Goodrical range in Pathanamthitta to the PTR to compensate for the exclusion of Pampavalley. Similarly, 1,016.94 hectares from the Neriamangalam range under the Munnar forest division must be transferred to offset the reduction in the Thattekkadu sanctuary. Having accepted the inspection team's recommendations, the National Board for Wildlife has deferred a final decision until the State government submits the necessary guidelines, action plan and details of the compensatory land to be included in the reserve. While the board has expressed concern that the excluded areas may be vulnerable to future encroachments without clear guidelines, residents fear that any new guidelines may end up imposing further forest regulations on their land. 'We are apprehensive about the proposed recommendations, especially the action plan to be drawn up by the Forest department. Even if the land is technically excluded from forest limits, ESZ restrictions could still apply. What we want is the freedom to exercise our rights over our land,' said Fr. Mathew Nirappel, vicar of St. Thomas Church, Kanamala. Sijumon Francis, general secretary of the Farmers Awareness Revival Movement (FARM), which leads the protests in Thattekkadu, has urged the State government to step in and ensure that the redrawing of boundaries doesn't get entangled in bureaucratic delays. 'As per the current notification, buffer zones of protected areas would still cover these excluded regions. To address this, the government must issue a separate notification declaring a zero-buffer zone in densely populated areas,' he said.
