Congress slams Centre for delay in 'ESA' tag to protect Western Ghats

Congress criticises Centre for adopting only 36% ESA coverage, falling short of the 64% recommended by the Gadgil report

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The Congress has accused the Centre of delaying the declaration of an 'ecologically sensitive area' tag for a portion of the Western Ghats and claimed that it is "directly responsible" for the human tragedy in Wayanad.

The Opposition party's attack came after the Centre issued a fresh draft notification to declare more than 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states, including 13 villages in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad, as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA ), inviting suggestions and objections within 60 days.

The notification, issued on July 31, came a day after a series of landslides claimed more than 300 lives in Wayanad district.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled that on August 5, 2019, during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he had raised the issue of the protection of the Western Ghats.