New ESA may cover 13 Wayanad villages, but not Mundakkai, Chooramala

The Central government has issued a fresh draft notification to declare over 56,800 square km of the Western Ghats across six States, as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA). It includes 13 villages in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad.

The government has allotted 60 days, inviting suggestions and objections for the draft. The notification, issued on July 31, came a day after the Wayanad landslides claimed around 300 lives. Severe climate changes, mining in fragile terrains, and the loss of forest cover together have contributed to the recent deadly disaster, according to environmental scientists.

Missing from the ESA list 

The draft notification proposes to declare 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala, including 13 villages in Wayanad district as ecologically sensitive. While the draft mentions all the villages such as Periya, Thirunelli, Thondernad, Thrissilery, and nine others, certain landslide-hit regions are reported to be missing.

Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala villages in Vythiri taluk, which had been severely affected by the landslides on July 30, do not figure in the notification.

Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka are the other states where the government has proposed to recognise ecologically sensitive zones. The final notification is pending, amid objection from all the States. a

No quarrying, mining

The draft notification suggests a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining while existing mines would be phased out within five years," from the date of issue of the final notification or on the expiry of the existing mining lease, whichever is earlier." 

The draft prohibits new thermal power projects and the expansion of the existing ones. Further expansion of 'Red' category industries (highly polluting), that have been specified by the pollution control boards, have also been banned.

                                                 (By arrangement with livemint.com)