Seeks Dilution Of EIA Norms Thiruvananthapuram:Efforts are on to undermine Western Ghats Experts Ecology Panel (WGEEP) report suggestions in the state. TOI has learnt that the state government has told the Dr K Kasturirangan review committee that proposed mining regulations in the eco sensitive zones (ESZ) will impact mining activities and there is a need to dilute the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure “in view of the lesser scale and the extent of mining activity” in the state. The government is also set to make submission in the Supreme Court, asking for a special scheme to control quarrying and sand mining. The government argues that 80% of the mining activities are in less than five hectare area and employ mainly migrant labourers to seek exemption from EIA procedure applicable to large industries. DANGER ZONE Kerala wants dilution of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure “in view of the lesser scale and extent of mining activity” in the state It says 80% of the mining activities are in less than five hectare area and employ mainly migrant labourers Applying WGEEP proposals in the three ecologically sensitive zones (ESZ) would deny the state the benefits of natural resources Panel for declaring Parambikulam an eco-sensitive zone Thrissur: A state government panel constituted to work on demarcating eco-sensitive zones around the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in Kerala visited the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary on Wednesday. The panel, after deliberations with local people, decided to recommend the Union ministry of environment and forests to declare a 358.66-sq km tiger reserve area around the sanctuary as an ecologically sensitive zone. The chairman of the panel for northern circle, T N Prathapan MLA, said: “We have decided to urge the MoEF to declare the entire tiger reserve area as an eco-sensitive zone. As the northern boundary has no core and buffer areas, it was decided to include 1km to 6.5km there in the zone.” Out of total 643.66sq km area of the tiger reserve, 358.66sq km was attached from Nemmara, Vazhachal and Chalakudy divisions in 2009 and added as additional core and buffer area. There are six tribal colonies, including Aanakkayam, in the tiger reserve. Declaring the area as an eco-sensitive zone will not affect the existence of the tribal residents there. TNN