Cabinet revises controversial buffer zone order, excludes residential areas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to exclude residential areas from the buffer zone. With this, the controversial order issued by the state government in 2019 will be revised. The Cabinet directed the Forest Department to take further action in the Supreme Court regarding the buffer zone.

A government order was issued in 2019 deeming a one-kilometre radius adjacent to the forests as a special protection zone. In this order, it was noted that there is no exemption for residential areas. The opposition later pointed out that this is the reason for the

problems related to the buffer zone.

The Supreme Court's decision to declare up to one kilometre of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks as a buffer zone has led to widespread protests and concerns. Later, both the ruling party and the opposition came forward against the Supreme Court's order.