India’s Emerging Ecological Public and the Western Ghats …
423
local people, outreach/communication plan and implementation/constitution of the
Western Ghats Authority and by organizing an information system. The committee
had wide consultations with the members of local self-government bodies such as
Gram Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat and also members of legislative assemblies of
the contiguous states and the members of parliament.
4 Major Recommendations
The Committee regretted the ‘rapid erosion of natural capital with the building up
of man-made capital, imposing excessive, unnecessary environmental damage along
with degradation of social capital. After careful and extensive compilation of information, and wide-ranging field visits, consultations and analysis, the Panel designated
the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
The report pointed out that
1. The Environmental Impact Assessment reports of the projects at the region do
not qualify the biodiversity and socio-economic requirements.
2. Depletion and pollution of ground water, siltation of water bodies, increased
frequency of floods, loss of fertile agricultural land and deforestation are the
result of existing industries (See details on sequential overexploitation by West
Coast Paper Mill (WCPM) (WGEEP, p. 53).
3. The infrastructural development, the electricity lines and transportation system
were adversely affecting the region.
4. The state of affairs in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of the state of Maharashtra was deplorable as the land use priorities were being constantly violated.
5. The inputs of public hearing were ignored, leading to social discord and discontentment.
6. The traditional wisdom (e.g.: sacred groves) and concerns of the local indigenous
community were ignored and discouraged.
7. The role of the tribal population in conserving biodiversity was not acknowledged. The report pointed out that the tribal population was the worst hit and
had borne the brunt, receiving no or meagre benefits from development. It stated
that the vested interests had also blocked the implementation of acts such as
PESA
6 and FRA
7 that were to provide them with some relief (WGEEP, p.12).
6 (PESA), 1996, decentralized existing approaches to forest governance by propelling the Gram
Sabha to the centre stage and recognized the traditional rights of tribal’s over “community
resources”—land, water, and forests. PESA provided for a wide range of rights and privileges
for the tribals and set principles as well as a basis for future law making concerning the tribals. The
states were directed to promulgate their own laws to promote tribal’s rights over local resources.
7 The Government of India enacted Panchayat Raj Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA) and
the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to empower tribal’s living in the forest to have an edge over minor
forest produces and minerals. Several civil society organisations and non government organisations
are working towards the appropriate implementation of PESA and FRA to promote dignity of life
423
local people, outreach/communication plan and implementation/constitution of the
Western Ghats Authority and by organizing an information system. The committee
had wide consultations with the members of local self-government bodies such as
Gram Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat and also members of legislative assemblies of
the contiguous states and the members of parliament.
4 Major Recommendations
The Committee regretted the ‘rapid erosion of natural capital with the building up
of man-made capital, imposing excessive, unnecessary environmental damage along
with degradation of social capital. After careful and extensive compilation of information, and wide-ranging field visits, consultations and analysis, the Panel designated
the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
The report pointed out that
1. The Environmental Impact Assessment reports of the projects at the region do
not qualify the biodiversity and socio-economic requirements.
2. Depletion and pollution of ground water, siltation of water bodies, increased
frequency of floods, loss of fertile agricultural land and deforestation are the
result of existing industries (See details on sequential overexploitation by West
Coast Paper Mill (WCPM) (WGEEP, p. 53).
3. The infrastructural development, the electricity lines and transportation system
were adversely affecting the region.
4. The state of affairs in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of the state of Maharashtra was deplorable as the land use priorities were being constantly violated.
5. The inputs of public hearing were ignored, leading to social discord and discontentment.
6. The traditional wisdom (e.g.: sacred groves) and concerns of the local indigenous
community were ignored and discouraged.
7. The role of the tribal population in conserving biodiversity was not acknowledged. The report pointed out that the tribal population was the worst hit and
had borne the brunt, receiving no or meagre benefits from development. It stated
that the vested interests had also blocked the implementation of acts such as
PESA
6 and FRA
7 that were to provide them with some relief (WGEEP, p.12).
6 (PESA), 1996, decentralized existing approaches to forest governance by propelling the Gram
Sabha to the centre stage and recognized the traditional rights of tribal’s over “community
resources”—land, water, and forests. PESA provided for a wide range of rights and privileges
for the tribals and set principles as well as a basis for future law making concerning the tribals. The
states were directed to promulgate their own laws to promote tribal’s rights over local resources.
7 The Government of India enacted Panchayat Raj Extension to Scheduled Areas Act (PESA) and
the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to empower tribal’s living in the forest to have an edge over minor
forest produces and minerals. Several civil society organisations and non government organisations
are working towards the appropriate implementation of PESA and FRA to promote dignity of life