The Ministry has not issued any draft notification for the declaration of Ecologically Sensitive Area in Western Ghats as identified by the High Level Working Group under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. This was stated by Dr. M.Veerappa Moily, Union Minister for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

                        The Minister further stated that the Ministry has accepted the High Level Working Group (HLWG) Report “in principle” subject to certain stipulations vide Office Memorandum (OM) of the Ministry dated 20^th December 2013 after completion of the consultation process with the stakeholders. The OM brings out the salient recommendations of the HLWG which have been accepted “in-principle” by the Ministry and also provides clarifications on issues relating to land use, agriculture, plantations and continued occupation of land in possession of local people as also on the status of ongoing projects/activities. The Ministry had also issued Directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 dated 13^th November 2013, wherein, the following five categories of new and/or expansion projects/activities which have maximum interventionist and damaging impacts on ecosystems would not be considered for granting Environmental Clearance in the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), as identified by the HLWG, in the Western Ghats from 17^th April 2013:

(a)    Mining, quarrying and sand mining

(b)   Thermal Power Plants

(c)    Building and construction projects of 20,000 sq. m. area and above

(d)   Township and area development projects with an area of 50 ha and above and /or with built up area of 1,50,000 sq. m. and above       

(e)    Red category of industries

      The Minister further stated that cases received before 17^th April 2013 and which are pending with the concerned Expert Appraisal Committees and/or the Ministry of Environment and Forests or the State Level Expert Appraisal Committees and/or State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authorities  will be dealt under the guidelines and rules applicable at the time of application, the Minister added.

RM/RS-  USQ2885 - LS