Political tensions over the proposed Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in Kerala's Western Ghats have intensified, with the CPI(M) calling a hartal in seven villages of Pathanamthitta district on October 24. CPI(M) district secretary Raju Abraham announced the protest covering Chittar, Seethathode, Aruvappulam and Thannithode in Konni taluk, and Vadasserikkara, Perunad and Kollamula in Ranni taluk, demanding their exclusion from the Centre's draft ESA notification.

Source: The Hindu via ScoopFeeds

The agitation follows the publication of revised cadastral maps by the Kerala Environment Department, identifying 8,590.69 square kilometres across 98 villages for ecological protection, against 9,993.7 square kilometres proposed in the Centre's draft notification. The revised proposal largely excludes 33 villages from the earlier classification, but seven Pathanamthitta villages remain within the proposed boundaries, although the area covered in each has been reduced.

The CPI(M) alleges that the state government has failed to secure adequate safeguards for inhabited areas and farmland. The Congress, however, maintains that the UDF-led state government's submission to the Centre addresses concerns over the protection of inhabited areas and farmland. The dispute has persisted despite the Legislative Assembly unanimously adopting a resolution on October 15 urging the Union government to accept Kerala's revised recommendations before issuing the final notification.

Kerala Congress (M), a constituent of the Opposition LDF, is also set to organise a protest meeting in Erattupetta in Kottayam district on Friday, October 23, demanding stronger safeguards for inhabited areas and farmland. Party chairman and MP Jose K. Mani will inaugurate the meeting, Kottayam district committee president Lopez Mathew said.