Lok Sabha Question No. 3329 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-16
Subject: Proposal on Ecologically Sensitive Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Adv K. Francis George, Adv Dean Kuriakose

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION N0. 3329

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2024

## Proposal on Ecologically Sensitive Areas

## 3329.     ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE: ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE:

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

- (a) whether  the  State  Government  of  Kerala  has  submitted  a  revised  proposal  on 02.11.2024 recommending the declaration of 98 villages spread across 29 talukas in 12 districts as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA), if so, provide the details of such proposal;
- (b) whether the proposal includes any digital maps or geospatial data such as KML files, if  so,  the  details  thereof  to  ensure  clarity  on  the  demarcation  of  the  proposed  ESA regions;
- (c) the  details  of  any  additional  correspondence,  reports,  or  clarifications  from  Kerala regarding this proposal;
- (d) whether the Government intends to make these documents, including the geospatial data, available for public consultation and feedback;
- (e) the current status of examining and processing this proposal by the Government and the timeline for its final decision;
- (f) whether the Government has considered Kerala's achievements in forest conservation and  its  participatory  management  model  as  a  basis  for  modifying  the  draft  ESA notification and if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) the mechanisms  planned  to  ensure  that ESA  notifications balance  ecological sensitivity with the socio-economic realities of densely populated States like Kerala?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (c) In order to protect the rich biodiversity of Western Ghats region, this Ministry has re-published the draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats, vide S.O. 3060(E) dated 31.07.2024 with an area of 56,825.7 sq. km. spread across six States, namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, based on the report submitted by the High Level Working Group (HLWG).

The Ministry had called for the final information/suggestions or objections on the draft notification  dated  31.07.2024.  The  State  Government  of  Kerala,  after  verification  of  the suggestions  received  from  its  Local  Self  Government  Departments  has  submitted  the Ecologically Sensitive Area, comprising of 8590.69 sq. km. in 98 villages.

(d)  to  (g)  In  order  to  address  the  issues  raised  by  the  respective  State  Governments,  the Ministry has constituted a Committee to examine the suggestions of all the State Governments in  a  holistic  manner,  keeping  in  view  the  conservation  aspects  of  the  ecologically  fragile pristine  ecosystem,  and  the  rights,  privileges,  needs  and  developmental  aspirations  of  the region. The concerns/suggestions of the State Governments, including Kerala are deliberated by the Committee on merits, before finalization of the draft notification.

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