The Sense in Sensitivity

or

Can the Development Pressures on the Sahyadri be reduced?

Vijay Paranjpye

Gomukh , Pune

What is Ecologically Sensitive?

Ecologically Sensitive AreasAn Evolving Concept

Ecologically Sensitive Areas, notified under Section 5 clauses i,v, vi, viii of the Environment Protection Act, 1986

Pranob Sen Committee Report (2000), defined

Ecological Sensitivity as, ‘imminent possibility of

a) a) permanent and irreplaceable loss of extant life forms;

b) b) significant damage to ecological processes affecting natural evolution and speciation

Ecologically Sensitive AreasAn Evolving Concept

Wild Life Protection Act, 1972

Forest Conservation Act , 1980

Environment Protection Act, 1986

- protects wild life, to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade-Creates Parks/sancturies ie. habitat for endangered species

- has regulated and contained the diversion of forests for non-forest purposes

-provides for the protection and improvement of the environment

- prohibits or restricts processes and operations in different areas based on quality standards, topographic and climatic features, biological diversity, and negative environmental impacts likely to be caused

Ecologically Sensitive AreasShift in Perception

Protected Areas (PAs)

- Oriented toward biodiversity protection- Protection to threatened/ endangered species

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA)

- Oriented toward habitat protection with sustainable development - Wider scope for protecting critical geo-morphological features

Questions for introspection : ESAs are sensitive to what? - Intrinsic sensitivity- Human interference? Development Projects?Can we make development projects sustainable?

Ecologically Sensitive AreasA paradigm shift towards integration

ESA as a concept emerged from peoples’ concern – PILs or court cases. Thus, community participation is integral to the concept!

Three tiered decision-making of development of region –people/CSOs, Monitoring committee, local governments

Control or restriction on destruction of ecologically sensitive areas – but - area not cordoned off to people or for eco-development projects

‘Ban all, allow few’ policy has failed in case of PAs

ESAs ‘Allow most, ban few’; but make it more democratic

Sahyadri Cluster (Western Ghats)

An Ecologically Sensitive Area

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsFacts and Figures

Extends from 15°60N, 20°75N and 72°60E and 74°40E; 52,00 sq.km

Sahyadris – Faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau – Deccan Trappes –solidified flood basalt

Kalsubai (1646 m) Tallest in Sahyadri cluster(Anaimudi in Southern Western Ghats is 2,695 m)

Receives 2500 to 4000 mm rainfall in some regions

Over 12 Protected areas (including Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Radhanagari, Chandoli, Mhadei, Bhimashanker, Koyna, etc. )

Approximately 2000 endemic plant species

Over 70 species are critical, endangered or vulnerable.

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsCriteria for ESA

SPECIES BASED:EndemismEndangered Species

ECOSYSTEM BASED:Areas with intrinsically low resilienceSacred GrovesWild Life Corridors

GEOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES BASED:Steep SlopesOrigin of RiversUpper Catchment AreasHigh Rainfall Areas

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsCriteria for ESA

Origin of Major Peninsular Rivers: (East flowing: Godavari , Krishna , Koyna, Pravara, Bhima, etc.)(West flowing Rivers: Vaitarna, Damanganga, Mandovi, ulhas, Vasishthi, etc.)

Sahyadris are a Water Tower

Laterites are subject to erosion and laterization

Vulnerable due to high rainfall and winds

Proximity to the Mega Development triangle( Mumbai – Nashik – Pune )

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsNon sustainable Development ‘path’

ROADSMore than 22 roads cut across the Sahyadris

DAMS63 reservoirs An 8% loss of forests due to submergence from 1985 to 2005

LAND GRAB (Mines, industries, housing)

HIGHER CONNECTIVITYInvitation to degradation

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Roads in 1990:13

Roads in 2010: 22

Initially meant to connect coastal areas to the Peninsular towns and cities for trade and communicationNow, they have paved the way for opening out routes for exploiting and devastating forests, excavating illegal quarries, establishing townships, wild life poaching, land grabbing and draining away natural resources from the mountains to the cities and convert tribal cultures into urban refugees

Dams in 1990: 49119941 hectares under reservoirs

Dams in 2010: 63168133 hectares under reservoirs ie. 48,100 hectares newly submerged

TOTAL forest lost : 168133 hectares in Sahyadri

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsNew (Vulgar) Urbanism/Tourism

Amby Valley/ Sahara Lake City

Area : 40 sq. kms. Location: Off LonavalaWatershed of Mulshi DamNext to ‘Koraigad’

Caters to:A few hundred millionaires? billionaires?

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsNew (Vulgar) Urbanism/Tourism

Lavasa Hill City

Area : 101.17 sq. kms. Location: Off Pune CityWatershed – Varasgaon DamReplaced over 18 villages

Caters to:A few hundred millionaires? billionaires?

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsOld World (Sustainable) Tourism (!?)

Mahabaleshwar –Panchgani ESA

Total Area : 237.28 sq. kms.Developed Area: 32 sq.kms.

Caters to:10,16,300 tourists and still counting(Poor and rich alike !!)

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsOld World (Sustainable)Tourism (!?)

Matheran ESA

Total Area : 214 sq. kms.Developed Area:Only 7.2 sq.kms !!

Caters to:16,50,000 tourists and still counting(Poor and rich alike !!)

LAVASAIndia’s First Planned Hill City 200010 Years of sustained devastation

MATHERANEstablished in 1850160 Years of sustained tourism

Sahyadri Cluster of Western GhatsESA Notification : A Saviour?