Kozhikode (Keralam), Sep 20 (PTI) Keralam Minister T Siddique on Sunday said the government was taking steps to exclude residential and agricultural areas in the state from the Centre’s draft ESA notification related to the Western Ghats.
Speaking at a press conference, the state Agriculture minister said the government was taking steps to exclude around 131 villages and 9,993 square kilometres of land in Keralam from the draft ESA notification.
The minister said the 60-day deadline for submitting objections and suggestions to the draft notification issued on July 25, 2026, would end on September 24, by which time the government would submit its comprehensive and accurate response to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.
He said the government aimed to completely exclude more than 30 villages from the list and remove residential areas and agricultural land in the remaining villages from the environmentally sensitive area limits.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, discussions were being held by Chief Minister V D Satheesan with the state ministers of Environment, Agriculture, Revenue and Forests, and senior government officials, Siddique said.
He added that scientific evidence and the concerns of farmers had been conveyed at a meeting held by the CM with the Western Ghats Environmental Expert Committee.
State Revenue Minister A P Anilkumar said the government was aware of the concerns of the people and would protect their interests.
He assured that no decision would be taken that would affect people’s lives.
Anilkumar said discussions had been held with the Centre and that there had been a positive approach from its side.
“The government will not take any stand which will adversely affect the people,” he asserted. PTI HMP SSK
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