The Hindu, New Delhi, May 31, 2012 | Read the full article here >>
The National Green Tribunal has sought the reply of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on a plea against grant of any clearance to any new project in ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.
The Tribunal also issued notices to the state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu seeking their replies on the plea for implementation of the report by Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) on the protection and preservation of Western Ghats.The plea by two NGOs, Goa Foundation and Peaceful Society, told the Tribunal that the MoEF had set up the WGEEP in March 2010, given the environmental sensitivity and ecological significance of the region.
The WGEEP in its report to MoEF dated August 31, 2011 has designated the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area and categorised the whole region in three classes according to their ecological sensitivities.
The NGOs sought to restrain the authorities from granting fresh nods to projects in regions in the first two categories which include 97 talukas in 44 districts of six states.
The WGEEP had in its report recommended that no mining should be allowed in the Western Ghats in Goa. […]
The NGOs have sought an interim order seeking directions that no fresh clearances be granted to projects in the two categories. […]
Terming the Western Ghats as “hotspots of biodiversity”, the petition stated that the region harbours the largest global populations of the Asian Elephant and besides other mammals such as tiger.
“By and large the Western Ghats have been subjected to a rapid erosion of natural capital with the building up of man-made capital, regrettably imposing excessive, unnecessary environmental damage in the process, accompanied by a degradation of social capital as well,” the petition said.
Source: The Hindu : Sci-Tech / Energy & Environment : Green Tribunal seeks MoEF’s response on plea on Western Ghats
Address : http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article3476285.ece?homepage=true
Date Visited: Sun Jun 03 2012 11:22:32 GMT+0200 (CEST)
For recent reports on India’s tribal cultural heritage, search select periodicals in the above search window; a list of Indian periodicals included in your present custom search is found here. | To also search Indian magazines and web portals, click here >>
Related posts
- Biodiversity Act | Biodiversity hotspot
- Ecology and environment
- Environmental history and what makes for a civilization – Romila Thapar
- Forest Rights Act (FRA)
- Indigenous knowledge systems
- Man animal conflict
- Nature and wildlife | Elephant | Tiger | Trees
- Revival of traditions
- Sacred grove
- Success story
- Water
- Western Ghats – tribal heritage & ecology
- Wildlife tourism