Kerala not to accept adverse conditions of MoEF on W Ghat
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE, THIRUVANANTHPURAM | 15 November 2013 17:12 IST
There is no need for anxiety or panic among the people over the notification of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) based on the Kasturirangan report, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
The expert committee appointed by the State Government to study the Kasturirangan report will continue with its task and the state will approach the Centre once again on the basis of the report that the committee will present before the state.
“The notification itself says that the Kasturirangan report is not final. The notification is valid only till a new Government Order on the issue is brought out,” Chandy said in a press release.
The State Government will not accept any condition that adversely affects the people, he said.
The Kasturirangan report has banned five activities - quarrying, sand collection, thermal power plants, buildings with total area of over two lakh square feet, townships higher than 15,000 feet and hazardous industries.
There is no ban on houses, agriculture and other means of livelihood, the Chief Minister said.
The Kasturirangan Committee was constituted after states, including Kerala, raised opposition against the Gadgil Committee report.
The Kasturirangan Committee examined the complaints from various quarters that the Gadgil report took nature into consideration but ignored the people.
The Kasturirangan report was submitted after examining the views of various organisations and farmers in six states.
However, when it was pointed out that certain parts of the Kasturirangan report were anti-people, the State Government conveyed its displeasure to the Centre and appointed an expert committee.
