The government has come out with a fresh draft notification to declare Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) in Western Ghats by superseding the earlier one.
The fresh draft notification was issued on September 4, the Environment Ministry said even as it invited objections and suggestions from the public within the next 60 days.
However, it clarified that the extent of Ecologically Sensitive Area and the other provisions stated in the earlier draft notification of last year remain "unchanged" pending the finalisation of proposals from the states of demarcation of ESA by physical verification.
The Ministry also said that the lives of about 50 million people living in Western Ghats region will "not" be affected, in the wake of apprehensions on the same.
The fresh notification supersedes the earlier one issued on March 10 last year and the earlier notification was applicable till September 5. It can be noted that two out of the six states falling in the region - Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu are yet to submit their physical verification report.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that while his government is committed to protecting the ecology and sanctity of Western Ghats, it is also determined to ensure sustainable development of the population staying in the region.
"In order to clarify provisions stated in the draft notification and to dispel the apprehensions and concerns raised by the stakeholders with respect to provisions of the draft notification...
"...and the concept of Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), the Ministry has decided in public interest to supersede the earlier draft notification with a fresh draft notification addressing these concerns and apprehensions," an official statement said.
This comes days after Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy urged Javadekar to accept the revised Eco Sensitive Areas (ESA) in his state even as the proposed final notification of the recommendation of the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats ended today.
Environment Ministry today said that the earlier draft notification was issued under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 for declaring Ecologically Sensitive Area in the Western Ghats covering Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The Ministry said that while responding to last year's draft notification, many stakeholders and states of the Western Ghats region had expressed their apprehensions and concerns with respect to Ecologically Sensitive Area in the Western Ghats.
"The main focus of the Ministry is to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats region while providing adequate opportunities for livelihood security of the local people...
"...in the broad paradigm of ESA which is not just about regulation of development but is intimately linked to positive promotion of environment-friendly and socially inclusive development," the statement said.
The Ministry said that the lives of about 50 million people living in Western Ghats region will not be affected. It said that agriculture and plantation will also not be "adversely" impacted and people's normal businesses and their other activities will also not get adversely affected.
"The Government is fully committed to protecting the ecology and sanctity of Western Ghats. At the same time, the Government is determined to ensure sustainable development of the population staying in the Western Ghats region," Javadekar said.
He said that the importance of Western Ghats as a global biodiversity hotspot and a treasure trove of biological diversity harbouring many endemic species of flowering plants, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates need not be over-emphasised.
It is also the origin of Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery and a number of other rivers of Peninsular India upon which much of the economy of the region is dependent.
"Therefore, there is a need to conserve and protect the unique biodiversity of Western Ghats, while allowing for sustainable and inclusive development of the region," he said.