Govt declares parts of W Ghats ecologically sensitive

NAGPUR, NOV 5: For NGOs fighting to save environment, it sure is good news. The Union government has responded positively to the demand ma...

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NAGPUR, NOV 5: For NGOs fighting to save environment, it sure is good news. The Union government has responded positively to the demand made by the National Committee for the Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR) and other NGOs including Paryavarani of Belgaum to declare selected areas of the Western Ghats as `Ecologically Sensitive Areas’ (ESA) in Maharashtra and two other states.

Talking to The Indian Express president of the NCPNR, S R Hiremath expressed happiness at the positive development. NCPNR and other organisations have thanked Union Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests for the decision which will go a long way in environment protection.

According to Hiremath, the areas to be declared under ESA stretches to more than 2000 kms along the border of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. The NCPNR had urged the government to expedite the process of declaration under the Environment Protection Act of 1996 by convening a meeting of the officials of three states along with the NCPNR and other local non-government organisations in these states.

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Hiremath informed The NCPNR, along with local groups had submitted a 16-page comprehensive proposal to the government in this regard. NGOs persisted for a year to make the government understand the sensitivity of the issue and the need for environment protection in the Western Ghats.

In Maharashtra the areas likely to be included in the ESA include Radhanagri sanctuary in Kolhapur district and forest areas on the Goa border.

More areas in Karnataka will be covered by the ESA. They include Anshi National Park (ANP), the area between ANP and Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary (DWS), forests between DWS and the proposed Bhimaghad Sanctuary. In Goa the areas to be covered are Cotigao sanctuary, Netravali sanctuary, Bhagvan Mahavir sanctuary, Bondla sanctuary.

Earlier Jan Vikas Andolan, (JVA) Karnataka in association with people’s movements, voluntary organisations and individuals had launched a concerted campaign to save the Western Ghats in Karnataka and bordering states of Maharashtra and Goa. The campaign focused on `People’s rights over natural resources-water-forest-land’.

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The NGOs had expressed deep concern at the vast devastation of forest in the Western ghats and objected to illegal mining in these areas.