THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has clarified the government’s stance in the controversial buffer zone issue. He assured that no action will be taken that affect the lives and livelihood of the people living in the buffer zone areas. The government’s firm stance is to exclude residential areas within the limits of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks from the ecologically sensitive zone. CM opined that the campaigns which states otherwise are wrong and the opposition is trying to misled the people.

“The final report will be submitted in the Supreme court only after checking the opinions and suggestions of the people in such areas and also by adding the buildings and constructions. This is to prove that the buffer zone area fixed by the court is in the densely populated areas of the state. The government will also convince the court about the practical difficulties in making these areas as buffer zone. The residents and farmers in the area need not worry.”, CM said.

CM reminded that the 10 km buffer zone was introduced during the Vajpayee’s government’s reign in 2002 and criticized Union minister Jairam Ramesh’s stance in 2011 on the issue. He added that after the UDF government came to power in 2011, the cabinet decided that 10 km should be 12 km, but the LDF government in 2016 took the stand that buffer zone would be established in such a way so that people's lives and livelihoods would not be affected.

The Chief Minister said that on August 8, 2019, as a result of pressure from states including Kerala, the Centre was forced to give a concession to not have the permission of National Board for Wildlife for construction within 10 km of the buffer zone.

He responded that the allegation that the Forest Minister had not taken the initiative to resolve the issues on the buffer zone issue was baseless. Stating that the satellite survey is only an indicator and not the final document, the CM said that such propaganda is wrong. He also said that there will be no action that will affect people's lives and will focus on environmental protection as well.