12 km buffer zone limit was decided by UDF, it was reduced to 1 km by LDF govt, says CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a press conference that the UDF cabinet had decided that the buffer zone should be up to 12 km beyond the 10 km mentioned by the Centre and the LDF government has decreased it '0 to 1 km'. “Sub-committees with VD Satheesan, TN Prathapan and N Shamsuddin as members have decided 12 km limit after several sittings. Everyone knows what the opposition leader, who is now on protesting, said back then.

"There are efforts to create misunderstanding by imposing buffer zones around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. The government will not do anything that affects the lives and livelihood of the people in these areas. The government's stance is that residential areas and farmlands within the boundaries of wildlife centres and national parks should be exempted from the eco sensitive zones. Other propagandas are misleading.” CM said.

“The final report will be submitted to the Supreme Court only after considering the opinions and suggestions of all the people in these areas and by including all the buildings and constructions. The report including all the constructions is submitted to prove to the court that the buffer zone areas designated by the Supreme Court are in densely populated areas in Kerala. The practical difficulties of making these areas as buffer zone will also be convinced in court.”, he added.

“The buffer zone was announced when Jairam Ramesh was Union Environment Minister in the second UPA government. It is doubtful whether the sub-committee chairpersons including V.D. Satheesan heeded the concerns shared by the representatives of the people. According to the Supreme Court verdict in June, if relaxations are sought in determining the buffer zone, then government should approach the Central Empowered Committee and the Union Forest and Environment Department and then approach the Supreme Court on their recommendation. That is what the state government is trying to do. As soon as the verdict came, the government started the process of getting the Supreme Court's attention. Meanwhile, the false propaganda to evacuate from these areas is just to scare people.”, he said.