Now Reading: Kerala farmers demand exclusion from ESA draft notification
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Kerala farmers demand exclusion from ESA draft notification
The Union government's seventh draft notification for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, issued July 27, designates 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala. The Hindu reports that 131 villages across 12…
The Story in Brief
The Union government's seventh draft notification for Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, issued July 27, designates 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala. The Hindu reports that 131 villages across 12 districts fall under ESA, including nearly 1,500 sq km (3.7 lakh acres) of farmlands and human habitations.
Farmers' groups in Idukki and other hilly regions are demanding state intervention to exclude populated areas from the final list. Leaders like Rasak Chooravelil and Alex Ozhukayil have urged an all-party meeting and publication of spatial maps. The 60-day window before final notification is seen as the last chance to secure exemptions.
The Indian Opinion
The debate around ESA notifications often pits conservation against livelihoods, but the real issue is the lack of clear boundaries for inhabited areas. Past drafts were scaled down after political pressure, yet farming communities remain uncertain. The state government must now convene an all-party meeting and release spatial data for panchayat-level verification. Will the 60-day window lead to genuine exemptions, or will yet another draft leave the same grievances unresolved?
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
