Kerala asks Centre to fix Ecologically Sensitive Area at 8,590.69 sq km

25 September 2026

Kerala has submitted a proposal to the Centre asking that the final notification fix the state's Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) at 8,590.69 sq km, fully excluding habitations, farmland and plantations.
Environment Minister Sunny Joseph announced this at a press conference in the PR Chamber of the Secretariat, saying the suggestions were handed over as part of filing amendments to the draft notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in the wake of the Kasturirangan report.
The 2013 Kasturirangan report had brought 13,108 sq km across 123 villages of Kerala within the ESA limit.
Following the Oommen V. Oommen Committee report the extent was restricted to 9,993.7 sq km, of which 9107 sq km is forest land and 886.7 sq km non-forest area; this position continued from the notification of 10 March 2014 to the notification of 27 July 2026.
A central expert committee led by Dr Sanjay Kumar was brought to Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala's demands were explained in the presence of the Chief Minister and Ministers.
A unanimous resolution on the subject will be passed in the coming session of the Legislative Assembly, and the revised ESA plan and map will be published on the state Environment Department website.