KGPA is seeking a comprehensive review of the Western Ghats ESA proposal

PKFiroz, MLA inaugurating a meeting of people’s representatives on ESA demarcation at Kattippara in Kozhikode district on September 3. Photo credit: Special arrangement

The District Committee of the Kerala Grama Panchayat Association (KGPA) has called for a comprehensive review of the Centre’s draft notification proposing demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats, particularly those proposed in Kozhikode district.

A resolution passed by the committee at a meeting of people’s representatives and local body leaders in Kattippara on Thursday (September 3) said the proposed ESA boundaries should be examined based on their ecological, geographical and socio-economic characteristics. It said the demarcation should not adversely affect the interests of local communities or development activities.

She urged the government to consider the concerns of grama panchayat presidents, members and residents while finalizing the ESA notification. It also urged the government to make necessary amendments to the draft and submit its objections and recommendations to the Center before issuing the final notification.

The committee noted that the latest proposal covers 9,993.7 sq km across 131 villages in Kerala. He pointed out that the number of villages proposed for inclusion varied in successive drafts – 123, 119, 92, 98 and 131 – and said such changes warranted a detailed examination of how the boundaries were determined.

Local authority leaders who attended the meeting also sought ground level verification of the proposed boundaries. They pointed out that villages have different geographical features and that revenue and cadastral boundaries need to be taken into account when finalizing the ESA delineation. They proposed that boundaries be clearly marked using a geographic information system or cadastral maps and verified in consultation with local authorities and other stakeholders.

The resolution states that the methodology adopted by the High Level Working Group (HLWG) uses geospatial parameters such as proportion of natural landscape, ESA and population density. He called for verification of whether ecological criteria were applied uniformly in the identification of proposed areas.

The association also raised concerns about the accuracy of the extent of forest area in the proposal, arguing that any reduction or change should have a clear scientific basis. He sought a detailed review of the proposal, particularly in areas where the proposed boundaries differed from those in earlier notifications. He also called for consultation with the forest department and other agencies along with verification at the local level before issuing the final notification.

PK Firoz, MLA, started the proceedings. Biju Thannikkakkuzhi, District President of KGPA presided. CK Kasim, MLA; district panchayat president Mili Mohan; and heads of eight grama panchayats were present among others.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 23:24 IST