The Malankara Orthodox Church has called upon the state government to ensure that residential and agricultural lands are excluded from the Western Ghats' Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) to protect local livelihoods.

  • Malankara Orthodox Church raises concerns over the 7th draft notification of Western Ghats ESA.
  • Demands that ESA boundaries be restricted to forest areas only, excluding farms and homes.
  • Calls for transparent public hearings and Panchayat-level mapping.

The Malankara Orthodox Church on Monday formally urged the State government to address the growing anxieties of residents in the high-range areas of Pathanamthitta district. The concerns stem from the seventh draft notification regarding the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, which threatens to impose restrictions on private land ownership and usage.

In a detailed statement, Malankara Association secretary Biju Oommen emphasized that government intervention is critical to ensure that inhabited areas and agricultural lands are not subsumed under the ESA. He argued that the limits of these sensitive zones should be strictly confined to forest areas to prevent the displacement or economic hardship of local communities.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the friction between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and local stakeholders in Kerala highlights a systemic failure in participatory mapping. By including residential zones in the ESA, the government risks alienating the very communities needed for grassroots conservation efforts.

The Church has specifically sought the exclusion of farms, plantations, places of worship, educational institutions, hospitals, and commercial establishments from the final notification. Oommen insisted that public hearings must be conducted in all affected regions and that detailed survey maps be published at the panchayat level for transparency.

"Environmental sustainability is only achievable when it integrates the socioeconomic security of the indigenous inhabitants."

Furthermore, the Association called for extensive consultations with elected representatives, farmers' organizations, local governing bodies, and legal experts. Should the scrutiny process exceed the current timeline, the Church urged the state to request a deadline extension from the Central government for submitting objections.

Historical Background

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been the subject of intense debate for years. The Gadgil Committee and later the Kasturirangan Committee proposed various levels of protection, but their recommendations were met with fierce resistance from local populations who feared the loss of land rights. This ongoing struggle for the 7th draft is a continuation of that decade-long conflict.

Did You Know?: The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas and are home to over 7,000 species of flowering plants, many of which are endemic.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the purpose of the ESA notification?
The ESA notification aims to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats by regulating activities that could cause environmental degradation.

2. Why is the Church intervening in an environmental issue?
The Church acts as a representative for the community in Pathanamthitta, where many parishioners are farmers and landowners directly affected by the proposed boundaries.