Kerala govt to publish buffer zone map

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has decided to publish the buffer zone map as protests intensify in the State over the government's allegedly "hasty" satellite survey of forest areas. 

The decision to publish the map of the affected areas near wildlife sanctuaries and forest lands, submitted for approval of the Union Government, was taken at the high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday, Dec 20. 

The meeting also decides to submit an application in the Supreme Court to extend the deadline for filing data.

A team that includes members of Revenue, Forest, and Local Self government departments and technical experts will be constituted for field-level verification of



data.

The objections against the satellite survey report of the State government have been gaining momentum over the last few days with locals of affected areas, the Congress party, and Christian religious organisations terming the survey as "inaccurate" and "lacking clarity". The Congress had threatened that agitations would be held if the Left government did not set aside its alleged "indifference" and address the concerns of the people on the buffer zone issue.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court in June had directed that a buffer zone of 1 km be maintained around forests and sanctuaries across the country. Against this, the State government has moved review pleas in the apex court.