Eco-sensitive zones: 337 villages issue ‘no-objection’ certificate

Pune District Collector Saurabh Rao said that all the villages have issued their ‘no objection’ certificates and the proposals will be forwarded to the state government by May 15.

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The zones had been demarcated after Kasturirangan committee recommended a ban on development activities in 60,000 sq km ecologically-sensitive area spread over six states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Maharashtra, the notification will be applicable in the districts of Ahmednagar, Dhule, Kolhapur, Nandurbar, Nashik, Pune, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Sindhudurg, Satara and Thane.

As per the report, the biologically rich areas with some measure of contiguity are about 37 per cent of the Western Ghats. They are considered to have high biological richness, low forest fragmentation, low population density and comprise protected areas, world heritage sites and tiger and elephant corridors.

“The villagers, especially in Mulshi and Maval talukas, had expressed their reservations on the issue but later they agreed,’’ said the Collector.

As per the Environment Ministry’s notification, there can be no mining, quarrying and setting up of thermal plants and big building complexes in ecologically-sensitive areas as identified by the Kasturirangan committee. In Pune district, 37 villages in Ambegaon taluka, 56 in Bhor, 4 in Haveli, 32 in Junnar, 51 in Maval, 22 in Khed, 66 in Mulshi, 9 in Purandar and 60 in Velhe had been demarcated. The committee had recommended a no-tolerance policy with respect to highly interventionist and environmentally damaging activities like mining or polluting industries. This would restrict activities like mining for stones and sand, atomic energy projects, construction up to 20,000 sq m or development of townships up to 50 hectares.