The draft proposes 56,825.7sqkm of ESA across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, including 17,340sqkm in Maharashtra alone
In the petition submitted during the public consultation period for the July 27 draft, the group sought a landscape-level approach to environmental regulation in Western Ghats.
We have sought cumulative impact assessments of roads, resorts, dams, transmission lines, tourism facilities and other construction activities within the same landscape,” citizen activist Vijaya Suratkal said. “Where ecosystems have already been fragmented, the remaining natural areas become even more critical for maintaining ecological connectivity and water security,” Suratkal said. Chari said Centre should also address how the final boundaries were arrived at and the evidence used for any changes. “Affected citizens need access to the scientific basis for boundary changes, including the reasons for adding or removing particular villages,” she said.
Pune: Citizens and environmental groups have submitted a detailed petition to the Union environment ministry demanding stronger safeguards in the latest Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) draft, including tougher review of pending projects, major infrastructure proposals and the cumulative impact of multiple developments. “Developers should not be allowed to split large or interconnected projects into smaller components to avoid regulatory thresholds. They also questioned the ecological mapping used for ESA proposal, arguing that it relied on outdated data. They sought fresh assessments of biodiversity, watersheds, wildlife corridors, forest connectivity, landslide vulnerability and climate risks.
Accordingly, the representation has sought public disclosure of village-wise ecological assessments, scientific evidence and the ESA expert committee’s findings before the final notification is issued.