3 eco-sensitive zones in Maharashtra get short shrift
The Union ministry of environment and forests (moef) seems to have found a novel way to silently delete three areas of Maharashtra -- Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani, Dahanu and Matheran from its list of eco-sensitive zones (eszs ). This means, neither the esz monitoring committee's term has been extended nor any regular funds released.
While the tenures of the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani and the Matheran monitoring committees expired in January 2005 and December 2005, respectively, at Dahanu, the authority is crippling due to lack of funds. The ministry, local people allege, has been under pressure to denotify them for developmental purposes. The local people and environmentalists are, however, opposed to denotification.
Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani were declared an esz in January 1991 through an moef notification, which also led to the formation of a nine-member monitoring committee in October that year. The committee's initial term was for two years. Its term finally expired in January 2005 after a few extensions. Moreover, at present, most of its members have either been promoted or transferred. But moef is not addressing the situation.
Similar is the fate of Dahanu, which was declared an esz in 1991. Its monitoring committee, the Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Committee (dtepa), was set up by the Supreme Court in 1996. But it's only getting a two-three month extension with almost no funding from moef. Some committee posts are also lying vacant. Under the 1991 notification for Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani, the esz monitoring committees lacked power to penalise the defaulters. It had powers only under section 19 of Environment (Protection) Act (epa), 1986 to file complaints. The authority thus wrote to moef for additional powers under section 5 (closure of industries) and section 10 (enter and inspect any area) of epa, but is yet to receive replies.
The situation is different in Matheran, which was declared an esz in February 2003. It covers an area of 21,473 hectares with a 200-metre buffer zone. Apart from section 19, its monitoring committee also had powers under section 5 and section 10 of epa. But the committee never used these additional powers and the builder-politician nexus flourished.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.