ECO SENSITIVE ZONES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Env and Eco)
Context: Much of northern Kerala, including Meppadi panchayat in Wayanad district, is prone to landslides, which led to its designation as an eco-sensitive area by two expert committees a decade ago.
Eco Sensitive Zones
- About: The Indian Government designates Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around Protected Areas, National Parks, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
- Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
- Regulatory Framework: This declaration falls under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Area: The 10-km rule is applied as a general guideline, with some variation in its implementation.
- Extended ESZ Notification: The Union government can also designate areas beyond 10 km as ESZs if they are part of ecologically important "sensitive corridors."
- Prohibited Activities: Mining, sawmills, the establishment of major hydroelectric projects, commercial use of wood, Tourism.
Kasturirangan and Gadgil Report on Western Ghats
- Gadgil Committee Recommendations
oEcological Sensitive Areas: Recommended declaring the entire Western Ghats as Ecological Sensitive Areas (ESA) with restricted development in graded zones.
oCoverage: Classified the Western Ghats across six states, 44 districts, and 142 talukas as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ).
- Kasturirangan Committee Recommendations
oBalanced Approach: Aimed to balance development with environmental protection, contrasting with the Gadgil report.
oPartial ESA: Suggested that only 37% of the Western Ghats be designated as ESA and imposed a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining in these areas.
