Centre proposes 198 Sindhudurg villages for Western Ghats eco-sensitive zone
Draft notification covers 198 villages in five Sindhudurg tehsils, part of a wider plan for 2,515 villages across Maharashtra's Western Ghats.
The Centre has taken a major step on environmental protection in the Western Ghats. A proposal has been put forward to include a total of 198 villages across five tehsils of Sindhudurg district in the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a draft notification in this regard. Following the notification, citizens of the concerned villages, local bodies and other stakeholders have got an opportunity to record their opinions, suggestions and objections.
As per the Centre's draft, the proposal covers 2,515 villages across 56 tehsils in 13 districts of Maharashtra's Western Ghats region. The Western Ghats is considered an extremely important area from a biodiversity perspective, which is why this entire process is being carried out with the aim of protecting the environmentally sensitive parts of the region.
The proposal includes a large part of Sindhudurg district. A total of 198 villages across the district's five tehsils -- Sawantwadi, Kudal, Kankavli, Devgad and Vaibhavwadi -- have been included. This is expected to generate curiosity and discussion at the local level over the proposed eco-sensitive area in these villages.
Objections, suggestions and representations must be submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change within 60 days of the date of issue of the draft notification. Objections and suggestions can be sent to the email es-z-mef@nic.in, or written objections can also be sent to the address: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi-110003.
The inclusion of 198 villages from five tehsils of Sindhudurg district in this proposal has given the notification considerable significance at the local level. The opinions and objections of the people on this draft will be important in striking a balance between environmental protection and the interests of local residents. Citizens, villagers, local bodies and other stakeholders in the concerned villages have been urged to record their views within the stipulated time frame.
