MUMBAI: The Bombay HC directed the Centre to specifically spell out what it plans to do about the state government's suggestions on the Gadgil report on the Western Ghats corridor. Justice D D Sinha and Justice V KTahilramani were hearing a PIL for declaring the 22-km stretch of the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg corridor as an ecologically sensitive area. The next hearing will be on July 17.
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil recommended that Western Ghats be declared ecologically-sensitive and also a complete ban on mining leases.
MoEF 's advocate Naveena Kumar told court that it the Centre would require further four months to take a decision on the report as it involves six states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu through the Western Ghats run. She said Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are yet to responded with their suggestions on the report.
This is a sensitive issue. Central government must insist upon these states to forward their recommendations,'' said Justice Sinha. The judges, in their order, directed the Central government to accelerate the process of receiving suggestions on the report from states which have not sent them
Awaaz's advocate Mohana Nair submitted that the moratorium by the Centre on new projects including mining in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts was expiring on June 30, 2012. But Kumai informed the government would be extending it by three months.
The judges concurred with activist Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz there is no point in waiting for all the states to responded as this petition concern the the wild life corridor in Maharashtra.
But counsel Y S Jahagirdar, appearing for an intervenor who has a mining lease, said the Centre cannot take independent decision for Maharashtra . There cannot be different standards for Maharashtra and Gujarat,'' he added. Kumai submitted that Ministry of Environment and Forests will be in a position to take a decision on the Gadgil report only after receiving suggestions from all six states. The judges , however, directed that the Centre an affidavit be filed within three weeks about what Ministry of Environment and Forests has to say on the suggestions by Maharashtra government. The matter will be next heard on July 17.
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil recommended that Western Ghats be declared ecologically-sensitive and also a complete ban on mining leases.
MoEF 's advocate Naveena Kumar told court that it the Centre would require further four months to take a decision on the report as it involves six states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu through the Western Ghats run. She said Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are yet to responded with their suggestions on the report.
This is a sensitive issue. Central government must insist upon these states to forward their recommendations,'' said Justice Sinha. The judges, in their order, directed the Central government to accelerate the process of receiving suggestions on the report from states which have not sent them
Awaaz's advocate Mohana Nair submitted that the moratorium by the Centre on new projects including mining in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts was expiring on June 30, 2012. But Kumai informed the government would be extending it by three months.
The judges concurred with activist Sumaira Abdulali of Awaaz there is no point in waiting for all the states to responded as this petition concern the the wild life corridor in Maharashtra.
But counsel Y S Jahagirdar, appearing for an intervenor who has a mining lease, said the Centre cannot take independent decision for Maharashtra . There cannot be different standards for Maharashtra and Gujarat,'' he added. Kumai submitted that Ministry of Environment and Forests will be in a position to take a decision on the Gadgil report only after receiving suggestions from all six states. The judges , however, directed that the Centre an affidavit be filed within three weeks about what Ministry of Environment and Forests has to say on the suggestions by Maharashtra government. The matter will be next heard on July 17.
Kerala cannot accept Gadgil report on Western Ghats: CM
Kerala on Monday said it cannot accept recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil report on Western Ghats as most of its suggestions were impractical to implement and said the State could protect its environment within provisions of existing laws.
“The Gadgil report places several restrictions on human activities in the Western Ghats and is impractical to implement in the state. Kerala can protect its environment with the provisions of the existing laws,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said in the Assembly.
He was replying to a calling attention moved by Communist Party of India (Marxist) member A.K. Balan seeking a review of the report by the Centre.
Mr. Chandy said Kerala had written to the Centre in January this year with rejoinders on nine suggestions of the report.
One of them, to decommission dams that are 50-years-old was impractical as various dams, including the Idukki hydroelectric project would be affected, he said.
Classification of areas under different Zone’s according to its environment and ecological sensitivity would badly affect the State, he said.
“As per present classification guidelines, areas under Vattiyourkavau in the city will be treated as environmentally sensitive,” he said.
On the proposed Athirapally Power project across Chalakudy river in Thrissur district, he said Kerala wanted to implement it without affecting the environment and ecology of the area.
Mr. Chandy said the State would once again give its opinion on the report and also the Athirapally project after receiving suggestions of an expert committee appointed by the government to examine it.
Mr. Balan said as per the report, 15 taluks in Kerala would be listed as ecologically fragile land and demanded that the Kerala government ask the Centre to review it.
The Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel, headed by National Advisory Council member Madhav Gadgil, had in its August 2011 report, recommended strict limits on development in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats zone and an indefinite moratorium on mining in large parts of the hills over several states including Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
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