Pune: Environmental experts in Kolhapur, Sindhudurg, and Pune on September 19 sent an appeal to the ministry of environment, forests, and climate change to set aside Maharashtra govt's plea for excluding over 1,981sqkm of land from the draft notification of Western Ghats eco-sensitive areas (ESAs). Over 2,000 people from Sindhudurg and Kolhapur, including students, experts, NGOs and citizens, approached the ministry backing the demand proposed by renowned botanist Madhukar Bachulkar. "Our humble request is that the central govt should not accept Maharashtra state's request and should not reduce the area of sensitive regions.
Govt should accept ecologist Madhav Gadgil 's report. Only then will the entire Western Ghats remain intact and secure," the letter said. Bachulkar told TOI that since 2013, there have been several versions of the draft notification with no declaration in sight.
He added, "From 64% land coverage, ESAs in the Western Ghats have reduced to 37%. We demand that the central govt stop considering continuous objections from the states and declare the ESAs. Otherwise, mining and industrial activities will destroy the Ghats.
" As per the sixth draft notification, 17,340 sqkm area in Western Ghats of Maharashtra has been proposed to be notified as eco-sensitive area with 184 villages in Kolhapur and 192 villages in Sindhudurg. Experts told TOI that most of Raigad, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, and Kolhapur's Western Ghats belt suffers from excessive mining projects, distur.