The CPI(M) State secretariat has urged the Central government to withdraw its move to include inhabited areas in the Western Ghats under the list of Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESA).

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the party claims that the Centre has rejected Kerala’s request to exclude 31 villages entirely and 92 villages partially from the proposed ESAs in Idukki and Wayanad districts. A final notification is expected to be issued soon.

The CPI(M) stated that the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had taken steps to address the concerns of people living in the high-range regions by recommending that only forest areas be included within the ESA boundaries, while protecting inhabited areas, agricultural land and plantations.

The State government had submitted its recommendations to the Central expert committee following a detailed study conducted by a district-level scrutiny committee chaired by the District Collector and comprising experts, including officials from the Forest Department. The recommendations were also based on the views of people in the agricultural sector.

The CPI(M) State secretariat alleged that the expert committee rejected Kerala’s proposal without conducting the necessary examination including field surveys. It called on the State government to treat the issue seriously and adopt urgent intervention against the Centre’s move. The party also stated that it would oppose any action that could adversely affect the lives of people in the hill regions.

The party observed that the expert committee was appointed by the Centre after consensus could not be reached with the States on the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee. It alleged that instead of seeking consensus by considering the objections raised by States, the expert committee has taken a unilateral decision by rejecting Kerala’s proposal.

Kerala had sought the exclusion of 4,548 sq.km. of land spread across 123 villages, including inhabited areas, agricultural land and plantations, from the ESAs identified by the Centre. Under the proposal, 31 villages would have been completely excluded from the ESAs, including 28 villages in Idukki.

The party added that the LDF government’s proposal was aimed at ensuring the protection of forests and the environment while safeguarding people’s land and rights. It claimed that if these areas are declared ESAs, several government offices, hospitals, schools, houses and places of worship would have to be demolished, and restrictions would be imposed on new construction and other activities.