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Urban sprawl creeping in upon primates’ habitat in Western Ghats

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Javadekar convenes meeting on ESA in Western Ghats

NEW DELHI: The Centre will come out with the final notification on earmarking an ecologically sensitive area (ESA) within the Western Ghats by August-end, incorporating suggestions of all the six states that may lead it to further reduce the ‘no go’ area by nearly 6,000 sq km.It is expected that the total ESA, meant to conserve biological diversity while allowing sustainable development, will be reduced to a little over 50,000 sq km from the 56,825 sq km spread over six states-Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala-extending over a distance of about 1,500 km along the west coast.Once the notification comes into force, the ESA will be a completely ‘no go’ zone for commercial mining and high polluting industries. The order will not affect basic economic activities, including agriculture and plantation, of the people living in the earmarked zone.“Reduction of the ESA is possible because three states – Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu – have reduced the areas during physical demarcation exercise like what Kerala did early last year”, said an official of the ministry of environment and forests. Considering Kerala’s report, the UPA government had in its March 2014 draft notification reduced the ESA in the state from 13,108 sq km to 9,993.7 sq km.“All the states have given their proposals and have also got public opinion and scientific studies done. Even majority of the villagers do not want polluting industries and commercial mining in their area. ”, said Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar.After a meeting of states’ environment ministers on Tuesday, Javadekar said, “It will not have any impact on the livelihood of the people. The decision will be both pro-environment and pro-people”. Once the government notifies its order, 85 types of high polluting activities, including setting up aluminum smelter, cement plant, among others won’t be allowed within the ESA.