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Journalism of Courage
The Cauvery water crisis is not the only instance of politicians daring to defy a Supreme Court directive.
After Karnataka, Maharashtra has now opposed a July 2001 apex court ruling declaring 498 sq km of Matheran — Mumbai’s favourite weekend haunt — an eco-sensitive zone.
The state says the zone can be reduced to 117 sq km around Matheran instead of implementing the guidelines for nearly 500 sq km. State politicians and environmental groups are at loggerheads over the issue.NCP MLA Suresh Lad and Matheran Municipal Council bosses have approached NCP chief Sharad Pawar to negotiate with Union Forests and Environment Minister T.R. Baalu.
Pawar has assured to take up the matter. The state has even dispatched an MMRDA report recommending 117 sq km for the zone.
Environmental groups led by Matheran Bachao Samiti, Intach, and Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) believe eco-sensitive zoning is necessary because it imposes restrictions to control rampant commercialisation of forests.
Lad said: ‘‘Matheran is spread over just 7 sq km. The draft notification by the Environment Ministry places 498 sq km around Matheran under the eco-sensitive zone.
‘‘This will deprive Matheran residents of basic facilities. It bans brick kilns, and threatens to render jobless over 100,000 people. People are finding it difficult to get kerosene and monthly rations into Matheran because of the ban on commercial vehicles, except ambulances and fire engines,’’ he said.
Matheran Bachao Samiti’s Sameer Mehta said losing precious real estate is the reason behind the opposition from politicians and the Matheran hotel lobby. ‘‘Eco-sensitive zones are meant for the good of locals.
It checks uncontrolled development, curbs pollution, without disturbing livelihood of forest tribals and local population. It would mean an end to 600 brick kilns, which are the biggest source of pollution in Matheran.’’
Mehta is also involved in developing an eco-sensitive zone in Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani hill stations.
According to Mehta, there is confusion that the notification would ban setting up farmhouses, crematoriums, schools, and residential houses. ‘‘There is no restriction on these. The notification bans expansion of hotels and other tourist facilities within the municipal area until the state prepares a Tourism Master Plan,’’ he said.
The Matheran zoning saga began in May 2001 when Mumbai-based environment groups filed an interlocutory application in an ongoing Supreme Court case, originally filed by T.N. Godavarman Thirumulapad against the Government of India in 1995.
After the July 2001 ruling, the apex court set up a committee led by Dr Mohan Ram to consider various opinions.
The Raigad Collector, who was asked to submit a report, recommended in September 2001 that 86 villages across 214 sq km be included in the zone.
Environment groups too submitted a report to the state, urging coverage for 182 villages across 498 sq km.
Last October, the Maharashtra government sent both reports to the Centre.
The Centre went with the environment groups, and the Supreme Court directed the state to issue a draft notification on November 23, 2001.
The Union Environment Ministry issued the notification on February 6, 2002, declaring 498 sq km as eco-sensitive under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
