RS MP RAISES CONCERNS OVER ESA PLAN FOR WESTERN GHATS

The Maharashtra government’s proposal to exclude previously identified villages in its final Western Ghats ecologically-sensitive area (ESA) notification and open them up for industrial and mining activities received objections from Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje.

Calling for a ban on mining activities across Kolhapur and the Sahyadri range in the ghats, the MP on May 21 wrote to chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray and Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar to reconsider setting up red category industries in the region, which includes a tiger reserve.

“I request you to ensure that permission for increase in industrialisation, mining, and infrastructure development in ESAS of Kolhapur in particular and Sahyadri Western Ghats is shelved. Both, Madhav Gadgil and the committee chaired by K Kasturirangan warned against the destruction of the Western Ghats,” read Raje’s letter.

While speaking to HT, Raje, the heir to the Kolhapur royal family and a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, said that opening up areas for mining and industries will destroy their ecological value and expose the nearby zones to natural disasters. “The entire Western Ghats holds historical significance, with the Kolhapur and Sahyadri range having huge heritage value from the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It needs to be protected and preserved as a World Heritage Site as designated by the United Nations. The state should support green and sustainable industries such as solar and wind, give employment to local communities and refrain from environmentally damaging proposals,” he said.

Meanwhile, state forest minister Sanjay Rathod said the final deliberations on the proposal were still underway. “We studied the details of the proposal and the environment ministry is yet to give the final nod. A report will be submitted to the CM’S office soon. Final discussions on the subject will take place in the coming days based on CM’S suggestions on the report,” said Rathod.

On May 21, the state proposed the exclusion of 17 villages for industrial activities and 13 for mining from the Western Ghats ESA draft.