With just two weeks remaining in the 60‑day period for filing objections to the Centre’s seventh draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats, hundreds of settler families in Kottayam’s high ranges are gearing up for a fresh battle to keep their homes and plantations out of the proposed ESA.

The four villages – Koottikkal, Melukavu, Poonjar Thekkekkara and Teekoy, all in the Poonjar Assembly constituency – were placed on the draft ESA map issued on July 27. The proposal is estimated to impact roughly 70,000 people.

Agriculture is the backbone of these high‑range villages, with rubber, cardamom, coffee, pepper, coconut and banana among the major crops. Residents fear that ESA designation could impose restrictions on plantations and hamper essential development activities.

Historical Background

The Western Ghats have been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot since the 1980s, and successive governments have placed large tracts under protection. However, since 2020, attempts to fold cultivated high‑range lands into ESA zones have sparked recurring resistance from farming communities.

In Koottikkal, opposition has moved beyond petitions. The local body convened special gram sabhas across all 14 wards, held an urgent council meeting and passed a detailed resolution outlining its objections, which will be sent to the State and Union governments by registered post.

Ancy Sebastian, president of Koottikkal Panchayat, said, “There are around 30,000 people in Koottikkal Panchayat and they unanimously seek exclusion from ESA limits.” She warned that the protest could spill onto the streets if the demand is ignored, with the entire village—from children to the elderly—joining a mass agitation.

Her central argument is that the panchayat has no forest land at all. “Satellite surveys may have mistaken our plantations for forest cover, but these are human‑inhabited areas and should be excluded from ESA,” she added.

Kerala Congress leader and Government Chief Whip Apu John Joseph assured that all possible steps would be taken to secure the villages’ exclusion. He noted that Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan is scheduled to visit Idukki on September 25 to discuss the ESA issue with stakeholders.

Pathanamthitta MP Anto Antony, whose constituency also includes Poonjar, reiterated the United Democratic Front’s stance that non‑forest land should not be brought under ESA. “Land beyond the boundary stone will be excluded from ESA. This will be conveyed to the Centre through the State government,” he said.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the inclusion of agricultural lands in ESA designations can trigger stringent land‑use regulations, potentially jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of small‑holder farmers and altering the economic fabric of Kerala’s high‑range districts.

“ESA designation without clear demarcation between forest and cultivated land risks turning productive farms into restricted zones, harming both local economies and conservation goals,” says Dr. Radhika Menon, environmental policy expert.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ESA tag and how could it affect farmers? An ESA (Ecologically Sensitive Area) tag signals that a region has high environmental sensitivity, leading to stricter land‑use rules that can limit agricultural expansion and development projects.

What steps has the Kerala government taken to reduce the proposed ESA area? The state has sought to cut the draft ESA area from 9,993.7 sq km to 8,590.69 sq km, aiming to keep inhabited villages, agricultural lands and plantations out of its ambit, and reduce the number of ESA villages from 131 to 98.