Don’t spread fear over ESA announcement: Minister

Forest Minister Shibu Baby John on Saturday (September 26) urged people not to spread unfounded fears over the Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) notification.

Inaugurating the 87th annual general meeting of the Growers’ Association of Kerala (APK) here, the minister said the government was firm on excluding populated areas entirely from the final notification.

The minister said the government will introduce a policy of containment, mitigation and compensation to deal with human-wildlife conflict.

APK Chairman TR Radhakrishnan presided over the session. The general body urged the government to introduce a compensation scheme modeled on motor vehicle insurance in cases where wild animals destroy crops. United Planters’ Association of Southern India Vice President Anil Mathew demanded that the land allowed for diversification be increased from 5% to 30%.

Published – 26 Sep 2026 21:08 IST