High ranges of Kottayam mobilise against proposed ESA tag

The Hindu reports that hundreds of settler families in the high ranges of Kottayam are mobilising against a proposed ESA tag in the seventh draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats. The draft, issued on July 27, includes four villages - Koottikkal, Melukavu, Poonjar Thekkekkara and Teekoy - in the proposed ESA map, which is estimated to affect around 70,000 people.

The residents, who primarily rely on agriculture for their livelihood, fear that bringing their land under the ESA could restrict plantations and impede development activities. The opposition has already moved beyond petitions, with the local body convening special grama sabhas and passing a resolution detailing their objections.

The State and Union governments are urged to exclude the panchayat from the ESA limits, as there is no forest land in the area.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.