Western Ghats Panel likely to suggest ESA incentives
ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) of six Western Ghats states, the expert panel is planning to go beyond that.
ET gathers that several measures, such as favourable loan and insurance regimes, incentivised green building norms and a clear-cut ESA regime, have been envisaged to avoid dual interpretation.
The five-member expert panel, set up in July 2022 to discuss the Kasturirangan committee report recommendations with states, is expected to submit its report by September-end.
Even as the panel is studying the feedback from states on specific villages based on the draft notification, it is also looking to facilitate a more collaborative ESA regime by factoring in local aspirations and concerns, it is learnt.
There is considerable mistrust on the ground over the extent of restrictions that the ESA tag will impose on locals. It is feared that any ambiguity in the rulebook may be interpreted differently by authorities and courts, putting inhabitants in difficulty. The expert committee and the Union environment ministry will look to address this concern by ensuring that the provisions and language of the final notification is precise to rule out any subjective interpretation, officials said.
Discussions have been initiated with finance ministry officials as well to find ways to facilitate housing loans for ESA inhabitants at a significantly lower interest rate, provided they follow green norms, it is learnt. International funding via green routes is also being mulled to provide interest subvention/financial support
