Politics · India Bureau
Kerala Forest Minister Urges Calm Over ESA Notification Plans
Kerala's Forest Minister Shibu Baby John has sought to allay concerns about a forthcoming Ecologically Sensitive Area notification, asserting the government will exclude all inhabited regions from the final order. The assurance came during the inauguration of the Kerala Planters Association's 87th annual general meeting.
LSN India ·
Forest Minister Shibu Baby John on Tuesday called for restraint in public discourse surrounding the state's planned Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification, emphasizing that anxieties about the directive were unfounded. Speaking at the inauguration of the 87th annual general body meeting of the Association of Planters of Kerala, the minister sought to address apprehensions that have circulated regarding the scope and implementation of the notification.
The minister reiterated the government's commitment to exclude all inhabited areas from the final ESA notification, a position he described as firm and non-negotiable. This clarification appears aimed at reassuring residents and business communities that populated regions would not face restrictions typically associated with environmentally sensitive designations.
The ESA notification has emerged as a matter of concern among various stakeholder groups in Kerala, particularly those engaged in agricultural and plantation activities. The forest minister's intervention suggests the government is conscious of the need to balance environmental protection measures with the interests of local communities and economic stakeholders.
The Association of Planters of Kerala, which represents agricultural interests in the state, provided the platform for these assurances, indicating the government's recognition of the sector's significance to the regional economy.