The government will convene an all-party meeting to finalise its response to report of High Level Working Group on Western Ghats chaired by K. Kasturirangan.

 The Centre had sought opinions of State governments and other stake holders on the report submitted by Mr. Kasturirangan after reviewing the Madhav Gadgil Committee report on the Ghats.

 Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told the media after a meeting of the Cabinet that though the Kasturirangan panel had reduced the ecologically sensitive villages in Kerala from 633 to 123, it would still be problematic for Kerala. The government was of the view that declaration of sensitive zones should not affect populated areas, livelihood of people or agriculture.

 The government was willing to extend any kind of cooperation for protection of environment. It agreed with recommendations of the panel that mining, quarrying and sand mining should not be undertaken in sensitive zone.

 The all-party meet was being convened for arriving at a consensus on the State’s response to the report. It would be held on a date convenience to the Opposition also during the coming Assembly session.

 Mr. Chandy admitted that the waste management still remained an unresolved issue. The Cabinet, meeting in the evening again, would discuss the issue and measures against spreading of dengue and other fevers across the State.

 He said that he had briefed UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the latest political situation in Kerala during his visit to Delhi early this week. He had no decision to announce regarding the induction of KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala into the Cabinet.

Source:The Hindu 5 June 2013