More disasters can be expected in these areas, says top ecologist

Kerala’s Wayanad region can expect more such disasters in coming years in eco-sensitive areas identify by the Madhav Gadgil chair expert panel Kerala’s Wayanad region can expect more such disasters in coming years in eco-sensitive areas identify by the Madhav Gadgil chair Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel if a cautious approach is not taken on which activities can be permit, the veteran ecologist said on Tuesday. More disasters can be

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The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel has designated the entire Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area and assigned three levels of protection-ESA1, ESA2 and ESA 3. In ESA 1, change of land use from forest to non-forest is not permit. Yet, no government has implemented the recommendations. Gadgil spoke to HT hours after the landslide in Wayanad. More disasters can be

I can say that the disaster location is in what is classified as ecologically sensitive zone 1 or of highest ecological sensitivity. There are many construction activities that are continuing in the area. Many tourist resorts have been construct with some constructing lakes in them. A tunnel is plan to construct to connect the area to Mysore. There are several plantations, most which are old and have been there since the British period. Those are also growing

Such activities are not recommend in ESA 1. All I can say is that more such landslides and disasters can be expected in these regions classified as ESA 1, in association with climate change and extreme weather.Governments are fully aware of what is being constructed, what activities are being taken up in these regions. They feel this man Madhav Gadgil thinks too much.

It’s up to them when they will implement these measures.We are in a functional democracy and people have democratic freedom. It’s up to people to figure out for themselves as to what model of development they want to adopt. We cannot do anything about it. More disasters can be