Lok Sabha Question No. 2069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-21
Subject: Ecologically Sensitive Area
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: BALASUBRAMANIAM SENGUTTUVAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 2069

TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.12.2018

## Ecologically Sensitive Area

## 2069.    SHRI B. SENGUTTUVAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to reduce the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)  in  the  Western  Ghats  by  about  6000  square  kms,  i.e.  from  about  56000 square kms to about 50000 square kms extending over an area of 1500 kms and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat will have reduced  ESA  to  make  room  for  sustainable  development  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  reduced  ESA  would  adversely  affect  the  lives  and  livelihood  of  the people in these States and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  is  likely  to  put  in  place  moratorium  on  setting  up  any polluting industry near the ESA; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a)&(b)  The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  has  no proposal  to  reduce  the  Ecologically  Sensitive  Area  (ESA)  in  the  Western  Ghats  by  about 6000  square  kilometres, i.e. from  56,000  square  kilometres to about 50,000  square kilometres, extending over an area of 1500  kilometres. Recently, this Ministry has republished the fresh draft  Notification  fourth  times vide S.O.5135(E) dated 03.10.2108 to declare  ESA  of  the  Western  Ghats,  with  an  Ecologically  Sensitive  Area  (ESA)  of  56,825 square kilometres, in the States of Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.  The  republished  draft  is  in  accordance  with  the  order  of  Hon'ble  National  Green Tribunal dated 24 th August, 2018. After republishing the draft Notification, this Ministry had issued  letters  seeking  views  /comments  of  the  concerned  State  Governments.  Earlier,  the concerned State Governments have undertaken physical verification for demarcation of ESA and  proposed  to  alter  the  ESA  of  their  States  from  the  original  recommendations  of  High level Working Group(HLWG). As a result, the draft notifications were not finalised in the past.

(c)The  Western  Ghats  not  only  harbour  rich  biodiversity,  but  also  support  high  human population density; 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. There  will  be  no  displacement  or  dislocation  of  the  local  people  living  in  the  habitations within the ESA demarcated in the Western Ghats and practicing of agriculture and plantation activities shall also not be affected.

(d)& (e) The report of HLWG was in principle accepted by the MoEF&CC.  It recommends maintaining  balance  between  development  and  environment  protection  in  the  ESA  of Western Ghats region. The HLWG also recommended prohibition or regulation of identified projects  and  activities  in  the  ESA,  which  have  interventionist  and  destructive  impacts  on natural  ecosystems.  Accordingly,  this  Ministry  had  issued  directions  under  Section  5  of Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  vide  Order  dated  13.11.2013  to  respective  State Governments  of  the  Western  Ghats  regions  to  prohibit  five  categories  of  new  and/or expansion projects/activities in the ESA of the Western Ghats, namely (i) Mining, quarrying and sand mining (ii) Thermal Power Plants (iii) Building and construction projects of 20,000 square meter area and above (iv) Township and area development projects with an area of 50 hectare and above and/or with built up area of 1,50,000 square meter and above   (v) Red category of industries.

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