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Western Ghats ESA: Village Maps Reveal Overlap
3 Oct
Summary
- Paani Earth Foundation mapped proposed ecologically sensitive areas.
- Significant overlap found between ESA and existing protected zones.
- Draft notification clarifies rules for agriculture and housing.
A citizen-led initiative, Paani Earth Foundation, has conducted a detailed analysis of the Centre's draft notification for an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats. Focusing on Kodagu and Udupi districts in Karnataka, the foundation mapped the proposed ESA villages.
Their findings indicate a significant overlap between the proposed ESA and existing protected areas. In Kodagu, approximately 70.8% of the proposed ESA area coincides with Notified Forests, Protected Areas, or existing Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs). Similarly, in Udupi, about 82% of the proposed ESA already falls within these existing protection layers.
The foundation's report clarifies that the ESA notification is distinct from the Kasturirangan Report, incorporating some, but not all, of its recommendations. Crucially, the draft notification assures that existing land status will be maintained. Agriculture, plantations, and housing will not be directly impacted, and property ownership remains unaffected.
However, the notification imposes strict prohibitions on activities such as mining, quarrying, and sand mining, with existing mines to be phased out. New thermal power projects, Red-category industries, and large-scale development projects exceeding specific built-up area or land size thresholds are also banned. The foundation plans to extend its analysis to other ESA districts.
