மேற்கு தொடரச்சி மலை, கிழக்கு தொடர்ச்சி மலையின் பாரம்பரிய சூழலையும், அதனுடைய தன்மையையும் பாதுகாக்கப்பட வேண்டுமென்று மத்திய கேபினெட் செயலாளருக்கும், சுற்றுச் சூழல் வனம் மற்றும் காலச் சூழ்நிலை அமைச்சகத்திற்கு நான் அனுப்பிய விரிவான கோரிக்கை கடிதம்.
My Representaiton to Cabinet Secretary, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India; In regards to the Safe guard environmental protection and heritage of Western and Eastern Ghats.
19.08.2019
To,
1. The Cabinet secretary,
Government of India,
Rashtrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi - 110003.
2. The Secretary,
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan,
Jorbagh Road,
New Delhi – 110 003.
Sirs,
Subject: - Restoration of water bodies - forest wealth of trees from being destroyed and for sustenance of the same – towards maintenance - Western Ghats representation regarding
I most humbly submit that the Western Ghats runs to around 1, 60,000 square kilometres commencing from Kanyakumari to Gujarat in a span of about 6 states out of the above entire area of the Western Ghats in so far as Tamil Nadu is concerned the same spreads over 28,200 square kilometre followed by Kerela to an extent of about 28,100 sq.k, Goa 1,075 and Maharashtra 58,400, Karnataka 43,300.
The natural resources which are abundantly available in these area are being better and properly utilised by other regions expect for Tamil Nadu. The exceptional reasons are not germane however it may not be out of place to mention that the 28,200 sq.k area of Western Ghats occupied in Tamil Nadu is being misutilised and mismanaged not only by the administrators but also by the public at large. With deep sense of concern I am constrained to bring to your notice about the state of affairs which is prevailing in the state of Tamil Nadu were the Western Ghats passes through. At this juncture it may not be out of place to mention that the Central Government in its wisdom and in order to provide the natural resources from being wasted in furtherance to better management and prospects of natural resources appointed Madhav Gadgil Panel which on through cross verification recommended and the same can be summarized as follows. Subsequently Western Ghats Ecology Authority came to be established as a statutory authority by the Ministry of Environment and Forest Government of India it is the said authority which had focused on promoting transparency, openness and participation towards development and sustainability of these areas so that the natural resources are not depleted as well as the developmental activities towards furtherance of natural sources coupled ecological balance are maintained uniformly it is needless to say that except the same being on paper since the natural resources got depleted and that encroachment, removal of forest wealth by cutting of trees was on the raise and that various representations pouring in for setting at right and to also maintain ecological balance with nature’s wealth from being destroyed another committee under the Chairmanship of Kasturirangan came to be constituted the committee submitted a report expressing various modalities and that of directives to restore the lost glory of nature’s wealth. The respective reports of the committee and the highlights therein are enclosed along with this representation for proper and better
appreciation which in its true letter and spirit will not only pave way for the betterment of the natural resources from being depleted but also sustenance of the same to the extent which has been already destroyed though would be permissible for revival and restoration in view of the calamity which had already taken place. I am constrained to address this representation to the authority concerned for a relook and for revamping of the Western Ghats though not in its entirety at least in so far as at Tamil Nadu region/area is concerned….
Apart from the above it may also brought to your kind consideration in regard to the Eastern Ghats also which runs from Northern Odissa through Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south passing some parts of Karnataka and in the Wayanad district of Kerala. They are eroded and cut through by four major rivers of peninsular India, viz. Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri. The mountain ranges run parallel to the Bay of Bengal. The Deccan Plateau lies to the west of the range, between the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. The coastal plains, including the Coromandel Coast region, lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. The Eastern Ghats are not as high as the Western Ghats. In the Eastern Ghats, there are many famous rivers which have cut gaps through the Eastern Ghats and have separately broken its continuity. The Eastern Ghats also harbours a wide list of Sanctuaries and National parks, many hills, minor rivers, and waterfalls providing a great aesthetic sense. This apart the Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats, The Eastern Ghats stretches from Sundarbans to Kanyakumari It is comparatively wider. It is divided into Coromandel Coast and North Sircar coastal plains. The Deltas formed in this coastal stretch Influenced by north east monsoons. They are lower and highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is Mahendragiri with a height of 1500 m. They rise gently from the east coast The hills are discontinuous and the rivers cut valleys through the Eastern Ghats. It is between
Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal. At the southern tip of the bow, there are massive sandstone hills rising step by step to the temple of Tirupati situated at the height of 1150 meters. The mountains of Eastern Ghats are much more away from the sea as compare to the Western Ghats.
One of the biggest characteristics of Eastern Ghats lie in its being extremely fertile. In fact, the Ghat is said to be the watershed of many rivers as the Ghat gets higher average waterfall. Due to higher rainfall, the fertile land results into better crops. Often referred as “Estuaries of India”, Eastern Ghats gift its inhabitant the popular profession of fisheries as its coastal area is full of fishing opportunity. Like Western Ghats, thus, Eastern Ghats also carry a heap of ecological importance. It is further stated that the Eastern Ghats once covered by luxuriant forests are becoming barren because of the greed and endless quest of mankind in the name of development. They have a rich biota and a fragile ecosystem, which is being degraded by illegal logging and exploitation of forest wealth. Unfortunately these prominent mountain ranges are under tremendous stress, degradation and damage due to human greed, population pressure, un-sustainable development, apathy by public, negligence by public servants, etc.Also, tribes living in these hills for ages, have been exploited by wealthy, politically strong mafia. There is an urgent need for the Tamil Nadu government to intervene. It should take effective and earnest action to save the major biosphere from ruthless hands.
The Eastern Ghats ranges are home to 2,500 flowering plants, thus protecting 13 per cent of India’s flowering plants. The tribals living in the hills have not received proper price for the food grain they cultivate. They have thus switched over to monocropping tapioca, leading to deterioration of land.
Most reserve forest areas in these hills are controlled by the forest department, protected by the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882 and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Tami Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955 is in force in certain parts of these hills, but it is not implemented effectively in the absence of popular support. As a result, the protection of the tress in private holdings has become a challenge. By making use of the loopholes in the Act and other government rules, trees are felled and removed clandestinely. These activities have made the hills of Eastern Ghats barren, its streams have run dry and the biodiversity is disappearing gradually. Large-scale plantations of coffee, tea and orchards have been raised in these hills.
Many aromatic and valuable trees like Sandal tress are being removed illegally. Uncontrolled removing which results in ecological imbalance is faced in these regions. Despite the Wildlife Protection Act, hunting takes place in some pockets. Tribal villages, private lands and private estates have fragmented protected forests. The forests are getting degraded because of the illicit collection of fire wood, illicit grazing and illicit felling of trees. Indiscriminate destruction of forests has increased human-animal conflict in recent years. Water scarcity and a threat to habitats drive animals to cultivated lands and human habitations in search of food and water. Untreated sewage and plastic waste have degraded the environment. Only if the people realise the importance of a clean environment and cooperate with local administration, the natural resources can be protected.
The concept of eco-tourism introduced by the Forest Department in recent years, involving local forest stake-holders may be a boon to not only residents but also the biota of the entire region. Only if an effective strategy for the eco-development of these regions is developed by involving the local people, the flora, fauna and other natural resources of Eastern Ghats can be protected. Otherwise the future of the Eastern Ghats and its precious biodiversity will be only an illusion.
Despite various initiative to protect biodiversity of the Eastern Ghats except for the same being on paper there seems to be no practical implementation or pressing into operation about the dire necessity of preservation and ecological balance coupled with proper management.
It is the above infraction and violation of the duties cast upon the authority who have been specifically assigned to cater the needs in general and to save and maintain these natural sources, in having failed to discharge the obligations cast upon the competent respective authority, before resorting to initiation of any legal proceedings much less before approaching the Hon’ble court for issuance of appropriate directives not only to maintain biodiversity, ecological balance and facilitation for the maintenance of the same.
1. Please implement the recommendations of whatever is fitting the nature both Madhav Gadgil Kasthuri Rangan committee reports.
2. Adequate financial sanctions to preserve both Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
3. To take rightful steps to safeguard heritage values both the Western and Eastern Ghats as it is.
4. There should be a permanent body to take care to protect these hilly regions.
5. Biological, Environmental and Legal oriented panels and necessary protection acts is very much needed.
These are few requests for the implementation by your Ministry in this regard. This representation is addressed for initiation of necessary action at the earliest.
Yours faithfully
(K.S.Radhakrishnan)
என்னுடைய தினமணியில் இதுகுறித்து எழுதிய பதிவு வருமாறு.
#மேற்கு_தொடர்ச்சி_மலை
#Western_Ghats
#கிழக்கு_தொடர்ச்சி_மலைகள்
#Eastern_Ghats
#KSRPostings
#KSRadhakrishnan_Postings
கே.எஸ்.இராதாகிருஷ்ணன்.
20-08-2019
No comments:
Post a Comment