What is Libido ?

Before we go into the Gadgil report, there are a number of things we need to look at .Where does Western Ghat is located ?  How long is it? ... where does it end ?

                      WESTERN GHATS

• On the fringe of the western cost of India  
• Extending 1500-1600 km.
• Average Elevation < 600 m.
• Six States - Gujarat, Maharashtra,Goa,Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil nadu
• Source of water for  entire peninsular India.
• Retains only 7% of original  forest cover. 
• World's hottest hotspots of biodiversity.
• Influences monsoons.

The Madhav Gadgil Panel recommendations can be summarized in the following:

Turn entire Western Ghats region into an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA); it should be called Western Ghats ESA. This area should be divided into two parts:

• Protected areas which would contain Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks
• Three Ecological Sensitive Zones (ESZ) viz. ESZ-1, ESZ-2 and ESZ-3, with varying degrees of protection. These are outside the existing protected areas.
• Divide the entire Western Ghats ESA into 2200 grids and each grid assigned ESZ on the basis of composite scores of ecological significance derived from the database generated by WGEEP.
• Since Western Ghats is spread in six states, treat Western Ghats regions of each state separately.
• Final demarcation of the ESZs and the final regulatory regime should be based on extensive inputs from local communities and local bodies viz. Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats, Zill Parishats, and Nagar Palikas, under the overall supervision of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA), State level Ecology Authorities and the District Ecology Committees.
• A Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) should be established as a statutory authority appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, GOI under Environment (Protection) Act 1986 to focus on promoting transparency, openness and participation in every way for development and sustainability of these areas.

• The panel recommended highest degree of protection in ESZ-1 and ESZ-2 categories. It recommended that the government should put

1. An indefinite moratorium on new environmental clearances for mining in ESZ-1 and ESZ-2
2. Phasing out of mining from ESZ-1 by 2015.
3. Continuation of existing mining in ESZ-2 under strict regulation with an effective system of social audit.
4. In ESA-1 and ESA-2, no new red and orange category industries  should be allowed.
5. Development plans should not be cast in a rigid framework, but ought to be tailored to prevalent locality and time specific conditions with full participation of local communities; a process that has been termed adaptive co-management.
6. Ecological sensitivity is not merely a scientific, but very much a human concern. In particular, a great deal of locality specific understanding of what has been happening and what is desirable, is simply not part of any scientific databases and resides with local communities. Hence, set of regulations tailored to the needs of the locality should be put in place if the area were to be formally declared as being ecologically sensitive

The above description makes it clear that Gadgil panel recommended something which was indigestible to politicians and businesses although it was supported by ecologists. The report was first not released in public by central government and once it appeared in public domain, it was also criticized by states where the mountain range stretches along with politicians and farmers’ organisations that feared it would hamper development.

Criticisms of Madhav Gadgil Report

The major criticism faced by Gadgil Committee report was that it was more environment-friendly and not in tune with the ground realities.

Recommendations were cited as impractical to implement.

Gadgil report has asked for a complete eco-sensitive cover for the Western Ghats which hamper different states on energy and development fronts.

There was a criticism against the constitution of a new body called WGEA. States insist that protection can be given under existing laws.

Gadgil report doesn’t give a solution for revenue losses due to the implementation of its recommendations.

Gadgil report is against dams in the Western Ghats, which is a crucial blow on the ailing power sector. Considering the growing energy needs of India, critics argue that this recommendation cannot be taken.

And the most important: The Gadgil Committee report adversely affects the various mafia  . When the Gadgil Committee report was first made public, there were a lot of protests against it from the sand mining and quarrying lobbies in Goa. Many mafias created fear among farmers in Kerala that the Gadgil report is against them, and that they will lose livelihood if its recommendations are implemented.

 

*TO BE CONTINUED*.........