**"Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - Part I - 11. Existing ESZs: Lessons Learnt :-" 3. Continued

Opinion
   23/09/2018
            1415.

*11.3 - Existing ESZs: Lessons Learnt :-

*Box 8: Mahabaleshwar Panchgani Eco-Sensitive Zone :-
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Presented by D. Mehta – Chairman HLMC, Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani ESZ

A Brief Background of Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Region 'Eco Sensitive Zone'
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Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani region is a popular tourist hill station; the only one of its kind in the Northern Western Ghats. However, the region also has a rich natural heritage, and is the origin of the Krishna and Koyna rivers. The region faces a severe threat from booming tourism and its fallout, like illegal settlements, illegal hotels, illegal deforestation, solid waste pollution, traffic congestion, etc.

In order to contain these harmful consequences of uncontrolled development in the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani region, a notification was issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in January 2001 whereby the region was declared as an 'Eco-sensitive Zone' covering an area of 123.96 sq kms. Controlled, sustainable development and protection to ecologically sensitive areas within the region was envisaged under this notification.

The importance of the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Eco Sensitive Zone (MPESZ) has increased, among other things, due to the recent judgment given by the Krishna Water Disputes tribunal. Since Krishna and Koyna are the major rivers which will affect the area upstream of the Almatti dam, practically every year during the monsoons, regulating and managing the head waters of these two rivers has acquired a special significance.

The Dhom and Balkawadi Dams on the Krishna and the reservoir on the Koyna will have to be managed and regulated carefully in order to avoid or at least minimize flooding of areas upstream of the Almatti dam. Therefore, the entire ecologically sensitive zone of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani which receives the head waters of these rivers will have to be conserved as flood regulating catchments, among other things.

Mahabaleshwar receives up to 8000 mm of rain during the monsoon, which is absorbed by the forests on the nine plateaus and on the slopes and ledges of the MPESZ. Due to the impact of climate change, both weather and rainfall patterns have changed significantly.

The ecological and river basin significance notwithstanding, this region also has to cater for over 10 lakh tourists who converge on this hill resort every year and have to be provided with basic amenities and tourist facilities of high standards.

The resident population, which hosts these tourists also, have specific needs and requirements which need to be fulfilled.

To be continued ..

OPINION :-

1. BHARATHAM IS BLESSED WITH NATURE, AND THE DUTY OF CITIZENS TO PRESERVE THEM;

2. CITIZENS MUST BE VIGILANT, AND KEEP AWAY FROM ENEMIES OF NATURE SUCH AS VARIOUS MAFIA GROUPS SUPPORTED BY POLITICAL PARTIES;

3. ANY DISTURBANCE TO THE NATURE BY THE ABOVE SAID DEMONS, CITIZENS INFORM THE AUTHORITIES, FOR PREVENTION IN TIME.

JAIHIND
VANDEMATHARAM