Irked by the ambivalence of the Environment Ministry on Western Ghats conservation, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday ordered the Secretary in the Ministry to file a detailed affidavit within a week on whether States have been asked to conduct a fresh survey of areas to be included as eco-sensitive areas (ESAs).
Calling the Ministry “messy,” Justice Swatanter Kumar who heads the NGT said it seemed to have doubts about the Dr. Madhav Gadgil report on the Western Ghats as well as the Kasturirangan report. Both draft notifications on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) issued by the Ministry contemplated States mapping out on the ground the extent of the ESAs, since the two reports had relied on satellite data.
Justice Kumar said the Ministry was changing its stand every day. The Ministry’s affidavit at the last hearing said the Gadgil report was not be processed. In another affidavit [on Tuesday], it used vague language suggesting that the objections may be filed by any person on the proposals in the draft notification of the area to be brought under regulation. In addition, there was a press report that it proposed to conduct a fresh survey, on the premise that the two earlier panels relied on satellite data for no-development zones, but surveys would find out the actual situation on the ground and a decision would be taken on the basis of this.
Physical verification
Tuesday’s affidavit in response to an NGT order in August, said while responding to the proposals contained in the draft notification, some of the State governments of the Western Ghats region wanted to demarcate the ESA by physical verification. The Ministry wrote back in June 2014 asking the States, except Kerala [which had already undertaken such an exercise], to do so within their jurisdiction if they so desired, and submit their proposals within two months. The Ministry was yet to receive proposals. Goa had requested more time in view of the monsoons.
The Ministry said it had decided to give more time to the governments of the Western Ghats region, except Kerala, to undertake physical verification, if they so desired, and submit their proposals latest by December 15.
