Supreme Court Asks Centre To File Response In Plea To Protect Western Ghats https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-protection-of-western-ghat-deforestation-destruction-conservation-writ-petition-224560 Aiman J.Chishti 23 Mar 2023
“The protection of the Western Ghats has a direct impact on the right to life and livelihood protected under Article 21 of the Constitution. Furthermore, as the Western Ghats is a continuous living chain of mountains which passes through six states, it requires the involvement of all six state governments, and relevant regulatory agencies in these states, along with Central Government ministries,”states the petitioner.
The Central Government has accepted the HLWG's report but has only issued Section directions under Section 5 of Environment Protection Act,1986(EPA) regulating activities in 56,825 sq. km. (reduced from 59,940 sq. km.) by an amendment dated 03.12.2018 after Kerala's recommendation without examination by MoEFCC. 72,212 sq. km. identified by WGEEP as the Western Ghats have been excluded from legal protection.