A meeting to discuss Kasturi Rangan Committee recommendations must be convened to allay fears of farmers and to throw light on areas to be brought under the proposed eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in the district, said farmers at the grievance day meeting here on Friday.
K. Suseendran and P.P. Gajapathi from Sirumalai, in their petition submitted to the District Revenue Officer A.M. Nagendran, said that entire Sirumalai had been brought under the proposed ESZ as per the draft plan. A majority of the people, mostly farmers in Sirumalai, feared that the proposal if implemented would affect their livelihood.
They appealed to the district administration to convene a meeting at Sirumalai.
Farmers from Kodaikanal called for cancellation of a notification in G.O (MS) No.143 (Environment and Forest (FR.5) Department dated September 20, 2013, immediately as the proposed eco-sensitive zone in Kodaikanal would wipe out agriculture on 50,000 hectares and lead to evacuation of 10 lakh people. “We are not against forests and wildlife. We need forests for survival of agriculture. But people also should be protected,” they added.
The proposed eco-sensitive zone around Kodaikanal sanctuary will wipe out all livelihood activities of tiny and marginal farmers and paralyse tourism activities. The policy makers failed to properly analyse the livelihood of villagers while recommending it for the eco-sensitive zone, they charged.
