Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said that the recommendations made by the Kasturirangan Committee report on eco-sensitive zones in the Western Ghats would be implemented by this year-end.
Speaking to presspersons here, Mr. Javadekar said that the Union government had asked the State governments concerned to hold consultation with the local population and submit their comments. While Kerala has submitted its comments, Karnataka is yet to do so. Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are expected to submit their reports in a fortnight, he said.
There is no doubt that the Western Ghats have to be protected for various reasons. At the same time, the sentiments of local residents too have to be considered, while taking up development activities.
As soon as the Union government receives comments from all the States, a meeting of Chief Ministers would be convened. The government would go by the people’s choice; however, there is a need for a regulatory mechanism, Mr. Javadekar said.
Regarding the Supreme Court’s directive to maintain 10-km buffer zone on the periphery of every protected forest in the country, Mr. Javadekar said that there are about 600 protected forests of different kinds. As the governments had not taken any decision on maintaining buffer zones where regulated development activities could have been permitted, the court had to intervene. Now, his Ministry has almost finalised the draft of buffer zones in consultation with the State governments concerned. This would be notified soon with the concurrence of the governments concerned, he said.
Coastal regulatory zone
To another question on redrawing the coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) norms as demanded by many States, including Karnataka, Mr. Javadekar said that India has adopted the best practices of CRZ norms. Protection of the country’s 7,500-km coastline, including 2,000 km of islands, is important, he added.
At the same time, the Ministry would not just go by the rules but would also consider Karnataka’s demand for relaxation in the norms for tourism purposes positively, Mr. Javadekar said.
