Lok Sabha Question No. 4 (STARRED), answered on 2015-07-21
Subject: Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 4 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2015

## Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats

## *4. SHRI J.C. DIVAKAR REDDY:

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

- (a) the major recommendations made by the High Level Working Group (HLWG) under the Chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan on eco-sensitive zones in the Western Ghats;
- (b) the follow up action taken by the Government on the recommendations of HLWG;
- (c) whether  certain  States  and  some  stakeholders  of  the  region  have  expressed  their concerns/apprehensions over the implementation of the recommendation of Kasturirangan report;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the remedial measures taken by the Government to address their concerns?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement in reply to Parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 4 for reply on 21.7.2015 regarding Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats raised by Shri J.C. Divakar Reddy.

(a) & (b): Major recommendations of the High Level Working Group (HLWG) inter alia relate to (i) identification of eco-sensitive area in the Western Ghats region, (ii) regulation/prohibition of certain activities in the eco-sensitive area, and (iii) measures for incentivizing green growth in Western Ghats region.

As part of post-HLWG report follow-up activities, the Ministry issued Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 13 th November 2013 in order to provide immediate protection to the Western Ghats and to maintain its environmental integrity. As per the Directions, five categories of new and/or expansion projects/activities which have maximum interventionist  and  damaging  impacts  on  ecosystems  shall  not  be  considered  for  granting Environmental  Clearance  in  the  Ecologically  Sensitive  Area,  as  identified  by  the  High  Level Working Group, in the Western Ghats. The Ministry also issued a draft notification declaring Ecologically  Sensitive  Area  (ESA)  under  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act, 1986 in the Gazette of India vide S.O. No 733 (E) dated 10 th March 2014 inviting suggestions and objections from stakeholders on the proposals contained in the draft notification.

(c) to (e): Concerns have been raised by certain states of the Western Ghats region about the extent of proposed eco-sensitive area and the proposed regulation/prohibition of certain activities in this area. Apprehensions have also been raised on issues relating to existing land use and any changes proposed to activities such as agriculture, plantations and continued occupation of land in  possession  of  local  people  as  well  as  to  ongoing  projects/  activities.  This  Ministry  had attempted to address some of the concerns and apprehensions through the OM issued on 20th December 2013.

Some of the State Governments in the Western Ghats have conveyed that they would like to undertake the exercise of demarcating ESA by physical verification as has been already done by the State of Kerala. This Ministry has accordingly given an opportunity to State Governments of the Western Ghats region for undertaking demarcation of ESA by physical verification within their jurisdiction except for Kerala State which has already undertaken such an exercise.

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