ESA draft notification sparks concern; farmers seek special Assembly session

KOZHIKODE: Highland farmers have demanded that a special session of the Kerala Assembly be convened to reject the Centre’s draft notification on declaring ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) based on the Kasturirangan report. The demand comes amid concern over the inclusion of more densely populated areas in the list of places proposed to be considered as ESAs. A similar situation exists in Karnataka, where the government is convening a special Assembly session.

Farmers said the discussions Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan held with the high-power committee appointed by the Centre had not yielded any benefit in the draft notification. The deadline for submitting opinions and objections to the draft notification will expire on September 24.

According to the Kasturirangan report, villages with a population density of more than 100 people per square kilometre should not be included in the ESA. At least 20 per cent of a village’s area must fall within the ESA limits for it to be classified as ecologically sensitive.

3.7 lakh acres under threat

As many as 131 villages in Kerala will come entirely under the ESA limits. Of the 9,993.7 square kilometres covered by these villages, 3.7 lakh acres comprise residential areas and agricultural land. The draft notification is based on the 2001 Census. Farmers’ organisations said that if the 2011 Census is used as the criterion instead, not a single village in Kerala would fall within the ESA limits.

“Kerala should also adopt the Karnataka model on an issue that affects people’s lives,” said Adv. Alex Ozhukayil, chairman of the Kerala Independent Farmers Association.