Moily set to red flag green report on Western Ghats

It may be left for the next govt to take a call on the Kasturirangan panel's recommendations

With the Lok Sabha elections around the corner and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s second term in office nearing a close, the controversial Kasturirangan committee report on Western Ghats appears to be as good as dumped. In what should come as relief to at least six states and industry operating there, it is likely to be left to the environment & forests minister in the next government to decide on implementation of the committee’s suggestions, sources say.

The committee, headed by Planning Commission Member K Kasturirangan, had submitted its report in April 2013.

The coming general elections, scheduled for May, are seen as the main reason for a slow progress on the report, which has drawn flak from six states — Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Goa and Gujarat. After taking additional charge of the environment ministry following Jayanthi Natarajan’s resignation on December 21, Petroleum Minister M Veerappa Moily had made it clear the concerns of the state governments related to ecologically-sensitive zones would be addressed before the report was implemented. The exercise is estimated to take five months — that is, a conclusion is unlikely before the polls.

Asked about this, Environment Secretary V Rajagopalan told Business Standard: “When we take a final call on the report, the concerns of these states would be addressed and accommodated. But it will take a few months before a final call on this is taken.”

Moily had, soon after taking charge, met Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and sought from these states a detailed opinion on the report.

“A notification of ecologically-sensitive zones would be out only after states submit their opinion to Moily,” an official added.

EXPERT VS EXPERT

Gadgil panel’s report

Madhav Gadgil-led Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) recommended the entire Western Ghats be declared as an ecologically-sensitive area

It suggested three levels of categorisation, where regulatory measures for protection be imposed; it also recommended a Western Ghats Ecology Authority be established

The three suggested zones were those for areas that needed highest protection, intermediate protection and moderate control

In August 2012, the ministry constituted a high-level working group under K Kasturirangan to suggest the way ahead

Kasturirangan panel’s take

• Using remote-sensing technology, it distinguished the cultural landscape and natural landscapes. Cultural landscape includes human settlements, agricultural fields and plantations — 58.44% of the region; Natural landscape covers the rest
• Says roughly 60,000 sq km, or 37% of the total area defined as the boundary of the Western Ghats, is ecologically sensitive
• The ecologically-sensitive area covers Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
• Recommends a prohibitory regime on activities with interventionist and destructive impact on the environment
• Strongly opposes major industries like thermal power projects, fertiliser units, oil refineries and mining in the ecologically-sensitive areas

Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, among others, recently batted for the Madhav Gadgil report on Western Ghats. Natarajan was forced to accept the Kasturirangan report — and not the Gadgil panel recommendations — after the national green tribunal pulled up the ministry in October for not taking a decision on the matter. According to the Kasturirangan report, 37 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats — around 60,000 sq km of the 164,280 sq km — should be labelled ecologically-sensitive zones, where the government should keep a tab on development projects and mining. It has suggested phasing out of all of the current mining and quarrying projects in the region. The suggestion is based on reports that around 17,000 mines are operating in the region.

“The Gadgil report laid the road map on how Western Ghats should be treated and had more scientific substance. As far as elections are concerned, I do believe the status quo should be maintained and the government should not allow any new project to come up in the region. The new government will take more time to take a call on this,” said The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) Director-General R K Pachauri.

The Kasturirangan report is also against setting up of any thermal power project and a ban on 60 other projects, including fertiliser units and oil refineries in the ecologically-sensitive areas. It has also called for a special study on hydro power projects. On the other hand, the Gadgil report had suggested that a larger chunk of the Ghats come under ‘no-go’ area, and be divided ecologically sensitive zones under three categories. The Gadgil report had also been reviewed after protests from state governments.  The move to go slow is seen as a step by Moily —credited for clearing as many as 100 files within nine days as environment minister — to reach a consensus on the issue. Natarajan was allegedly holding up investments worth Rs 10 lakh crore in the environment ministry.