SC order on eco-sensitive zone to hit one lakh Kerala households, 20 cities

Express News Service

KOCHI: The Supreme Court order directing to make one km ecosensitive zone (ESZ) obligatory for all wildlife sanctuaries and nationwide parks has brought about concern within the state as growth and livelihood actions in villages situated round protected forests can be affected. According to Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA) chairman Alex Ozhukayil, round 20 cities and one lakh households can be affected.

Meanwhile wildlife conservation activists welcomed the judgment declaring that eco-sensitive areas should be protected as they’re susceptible to even delicate disturbance. “There are 24 wildlife sanctuaries and nationwide parks in Kerala and offering one km ecosensitive zone round all these forests will make round 2.5 lakh acres of human habitations no growth zone.

The ESZ pointers ought to be applied contemplating native situations. The inhabitants density on the nationwide stage is 360 individuals per sq km whereas it’s 860 individuals per sq km in Kerala. The implementation of the order will have an effect on the livelihood of round 1 lakh households,” mentioned Alex Ozhukayil. The workplace of Forest Minister A Okay Saseendran mentioned the state will discover choices to persuade the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) concerning the scenario in Kerala. “Almost all states can be affected and all states could method the Centre to discover a answer.

We will attempt to implead within the case and if the court docket permits to take care of the current scenario, there won’t be any drawback. The new order will limit development of lodges, and industrial institutions. The order doesn’t say something concerning the sanctuaries for which notification has been issued,” mentioned an officer on the forest minister’s workplace. The court docket has made the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and thehome secretary of every state chargeable for correct compliance of the order. The PCCFs have been directed to make a listing of subsisting constructions throughout the respective ESZs and submit a report earlier than the court docket inside a interval of three months.

“We will try to add a report on the local conditions and the need to provide relaxation to the state,” mentioned an officer. The order says that the minimal width of the ESZ will be diluted in overwhelming public curiosity however for that function the state ought to method the Central-empowered committee and MoEF. These our bodies ought to give their suggestions to the court docket.

“The ESZ will reduce man – animal conflict. The restrictions are already in force in forest fringe areas and the order will not affect the livelihood of farmers. The farmers will have to obtain permission from the forest department for constructing residential buildings. Only commercial establishments and quarrying will be banned,” mentioned former further principal chief conservator of forests O P Kaler. “The order will have an impact in districts like Idukki and Wayanad where many towns are located close to the forest boundary. However, the Supreme Court order is a welcome directive as the eco-sensitive zone will provide a buffer zone to reduce man – animal conflicts.,” mentioned biodiversity scientist Dr P S Easa.