This story is from January 5, 2015

‘Concerned people’ vow to protect Western Ghats

The meet convened by the People for Western Ghats at Peaceful Society, Madkai, unanimously resolved to work for the protection and conservation of the eco-sensitive, biodiversity-rich wildlife corridor in the Western Ghats.
‘Concerned people’ vow to protect Western Ghats
The meet convened by the People for Western Ghats at Peaceful Society, Madkai, unanimously resolved to work for the protection and conservation of the eco-sensitive, biodiversity-rich wildlife corridor in the Western Ghats.
Pandurang Hegde and Kalandand Mani initiated and guided the discussions wherein various issues pertaining to the present status of protection and conservation of the Western Ghats, the concept of responsible tourism, politics behind non-implementation of Western Ghats Environment Expert Panel and efforts which are going on to dilute existing environmental laws were discussed.

Members of the organizing group expressed grave concern over unplanned tourism activities hampering the eco-sensitivity of the biodiversity rich Dudhsagar valley of the Mollem National Park.
Hegde cited the example of successful eco-tourism model followed at Sirsi, in Karnataka.
Nirmal Kulkarni mentioned how compensatory afforestation funds which were to be used mainly for the purpose of afforestation and infrastructure were instead being utilized for tourism projects.
Vaishali Patil informed that in Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra, a political decision seems to be taken not to implement ESA. A government order dated June 4, 2014, requires that public hearings are to be conducted for people’s opinions on ESA implementation, wherein a government representative comes up to the public and asks people for their opinion. People many occasions are misinformed about the implications of the ESA this causes panic and gram sabha resolutions are passed refusing the ESA notification thereby working detrimental for Western Ghats.

Claude Alvares informed that the matter on implementation of the HLWG & WGEEP reports have been disposed by NGT (Application 26/2012), leaving scope for challenging any notifications in this regard. He also said that the gram sabha, the Biological Diversity Act and the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act[1] are paramount in environmental decision making at the grassroots.
Members also discussed on issues of forest clearance, private forests, land regulation, Forest Rights Act, CRZ regulations, need for environment impact assessment, cumulative impact and carrying capacity. 14 resource persons from Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka took part in the meet.
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