Committee to recommend conservation measures for Western Ghats
The Environment Ministry has formed a committee to recommend measures for conservation of the Western Ghats as well as steps to prevent illegal development in the region. This seen as a long due step from the government aimed at preservation, conservation and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats.
The 14 member expert panel headed by known scientist, Dr Madhav Gadgil was constituted on Thursday. Dr GV Subramanyam who is an advisor the environment ministry will be the member secretary in the panel.
The panel will complete its work and prepare a report in the period of six months. Western Ghats spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The panel will study the ecology of the Western Ghats region. It will also mark areas which will be declared as the ecologically sensitive zone under the Environment Protection Act.
The Environment Ministry has said that the Western Ghats neutralised an estimated 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in a year. This is about 10 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions neutralised by forests in the country. The ministry said that Western Ghats are to Asia what Amazon is to South America.
The ministry outlined that the region has come under threat from the human activities relating to illegal constructions and tourism. The ministry also said that the region is extremely rich in biodiversity.
It brought together leaders from different political parties to form consensus. "Forty-three MPs from 51 districts in six states have been informed about the sensitive zones in the Western Ghats, These MPs would meet regularly to ensure better coordination between governments of the six states," said Subramanyam.