The Kerala Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to exempt the State from declaring ecos-ensitive zones (ESZ) of 1 km around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. It also called for a legislation that could enable the State overcome the Supreme Court directive in this regard.
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, who moved the resolution, said the apex court’s order had dealt a blow to the State’s efforts in excluding human-inhabited areas from the proposed ESZ. It has come at a time when a proposal that put forth the State’s demand was being considered by the Central government.
According to him, the inclusion of such areas within the notified zone is bound to affect large sections in the State where forests constitute nearly 30% of the entire geographical area. Moreover, the Western Ghats region in Kerala is spread across 48% of the total area. The State, which is blessed with numerous wetlands, is also densely populated at nearly 900 people per sq.km. and has been witnessing dwindling space for habitation.
