Opposition walks out of the Kerala Assembly on the ESZ issue
The Hindu
Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan warned that a legal setback in the case would effectively ban farming, human activity and development in the vicinity of 23 protected forests in the State
Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) opposition walked out of the Assembly on Thursday, predicting a possible government failure to circumvent the Supreme Court's (SC) order setting an ecologically sensitive buffer zone (ESZ) within a one-kilometre radius of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.
Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan warned a legal setback in the case would effectively ban farming, human activity and development in the vicinity of 23 protected forests in the State. It would force lakhs of families to abandon their traditional lands.
Also read: Explained | Why is Kerala protesting Supreme Court’s ESZ notification
The government's "lack of political will" to pull back Kerala from the legally precarious position portended a social catastrophe of a hitherto unprecedented scale.
"Any legal reversal for Kerala in the SC will render lakhs of families environmental refugees and cause widespread loss of livelihood. We are witnessing a microcosm of the adversity in Vizhinjam", he said.
Moving an adjournment motion on the touchy topic that has immense political ramifications for both fronts, Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan doubted the government's commitment to insulate homes, farms, townships and population centres from the buffer zone.
Mr. Kuzhalnadan claimed the Oomen Chandy government in 2013 had recommended exempting human habitations in their entirety from the proposed ESZ. It promulgated a draft notification to protect the State's interests.