Lok Sabha Question No. 73 (STARRED), answered on 2021-02-05
Subject: Ecologically Sensitive Areas/Zones
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Vellalath Kochukrishnan Nair. Sreekandan

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 73

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

## Ecologically Sensitive Areas/Zones

## *73. SHRI V.K. SREEKANDAN:

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

- (a) whether several villages in the Palakkad district have been classified as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA)/Ecologically Sensitive Zones  (ESZ)  in accordance with Dr. Kasturirangan Report and a recent Government notification dated 27 October, 2020, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it is  true  that  on  implementation  of  ESA  and  ESZ  notifications, farmers/people living in such villages would be evacuated and their land would be converted into forest land and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether there have been protests by people against such notifications and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has received any representations in this regard, if so, the details  thereof  and  the  action  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## Statement  referred  to  in  reply  to  paras  (a)  to  (d)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred Question No. 73 due for reply on 05.02.2021 regarding 'Ecologically Sensitive Area/Zones' raised by Shri V.K. Sreekandan.

- (a) The High Level Working Group (HLWG) constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan in its report identified 14 villages namely, Kizhakkenchery-I, MuthalamadaI, Muthalamada-II, Nelliyampathy, Pudur, Padavayal, Agali, Kottathara, Sholayur, Kallamala, Palakkayam, Malampuzha-I, Puthuppariyaram-I, Pudussery East, from Palakkad District for consideration under the Western Ghats Eco Sensitive Area(ESA).

The  Government  of  Kerala  has  proposed  8  partial  villages  to  put  under  Eco  Sensitive Zone(ESZ)for Salient Valley National Park.They are Padavayal, Kallamala, Palakkayam, Payyanadam, Mannarkkad, Allanallur III, Kottopadam I, Kottopadam III, from Palakkad District and suggested for inclusion in the Notification dated 27 th October, 2020 under Eco Sensitive  Zone.    Accordingly,  the  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change has  issued  draft  Eco  Sensitive  Zone  Notification  for  Salient  Valley  National  Park vide S.O.No.3880(E) dated the 27 th October, 2020.

- (b) No, Sir. The implementation of ESA and ESZ Notifications does not involve displacement and evacuation of farmers/people living in such villages nor their land would be converted in  to  forestland.Also,the  purpose  of  declaration  of  ESA  and  ESZ  Notifications  is  not displacement or evacuation of farmers/people living in such villages.
- (c) &(d)  The  Central  Government  has  received  comments  from  the  concerned  stakeholders including general public on the draft notifications, which inter alia includes apprehension about restrictions on agriculture and habitation land; exclusion of highly populated village from  the  ESA;  clarity  regarding  protected  area  and  boundary  of  ESZ,  comments  on prohibition and/ or regulation of certain activities.

The notifications of Western Ghats ESA and Salient Valley National Park ESZ are at the draft  stage.The  final  notifications  have not been issued. The representations received are being duly considered and discussed with the State Government.

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