Loading dispatches...
← Return to NewsroomPolitics
ESA notification raises concern among people in hilly regions of Kerala
Breaking
Trump's comments on a united Ireland may have targeted audience across the Atlantic
Local farmers’ movements are demanding the State’s intervention to ensure populated areas are excluded from the final ESA list. | Issued on July 27, the draft notification designates 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala as ESA out of the total 56,825.7 sq km designated nationwide. Farmer leaders noted that with 131 villages from the State now included in the draft notification, nearly 1,500 sq km (around 3.7 lakh acres) of farmlands and human habitations fall in the ESA zone.The designated villages span across 12 districts: Idukki, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Wayanad. Local farmers’ movements are demanding the State government’s intervention to ensure the exclusion of populated areas from the final ESA list.Rasak Chooravelil, chairperson of the Idukki Land Freedom Movement (ILFM), said 51 out of the 68 revenue villages in Idukki district now fall in the ESA category as per the draft document. “The government should call an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and intervene immediately,” he said.‘The last chance’Alex Ozhukayil, chairperson of the Kerala Independent Farmers Association (KIFA), pointed out that the draft notification leaves a 60-day window before the final notification is issued. “This is the last chance to exclude farmlands and residential areas from the list and the State government must act swiftly,” Mr. Ozhukayil said.“The government should publish the minutes of a high-power committee meeting held in July 2026 to discuss the issue and make the spatial map data submitted to the Centre accessible to the public. This will allow residents to verify boundaries at the panchayat-level to ensure no inhabited lands are included.”Former Idukki MP Joyce George recalled that the first ESA draft notification, issued on November 13, 2013, covered 123 villages spanning 13,108 sq km. “Following interventions from lawmakers in August 2018, the proposed area was scaled down to 9,973.7 sq km,” Mr. George said. “While previous drafts omitted specific village breakdowns, the new notification clearly lists both existing and newly bifurcated villages. Members of Parliament across the Western Ghats must jointly approach the Union government to ensure human habitations and farmlands are excluded from the final notification,” he said.Persistent protestsHilly regions across Idukki have seen persistent protests against ESA designations since 2013. The High Range Samrakshana Samithy (HRSS), an umbrella organisation backed by the Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, has led several protests over the years.Fr. Sebastian Kochupurakal, general convener of the HRSS, emphasised that the core problem remains unaddressed. “Unless farmlands and human habitations are completely exempted from the final ESA notification, residents in the State’s high ranges cannot live in peace,” Fr. Kochupurakal said. Published - August 01, 2026 08:30 am IST
Residents noticed thick smoke coming from the dump yard around 3 a.m. | The police said that it was around 3 a.m when a few residents noticed thick smoke from the open dumpyard on the outskirts of town. The area is dotted with large godowns that store plastic wastes for recycle.On being informed, Sholinghur Town police and firefighters reached the 10-acre plot of land. Every day, on an average, 15-20 tonnes of waste is dumped at the yard. These wastes are generated within the municipality limits that have 27 wards.After more than two hours of labour, firefighters doused the fire. A case was registered. A probe is under way. Published - July 31, 2026 11:26 pm IST
Rust and wear are visible on a steel foot overbridge along OMR in Chennai, where commuters face slippery conditions during the monsoon and heated handrails under the summer sun. | | "I thought there was a step there, but there was none. That portion of the step had worn out due to constant use," she said.She is not alone in missing a step or walking on dangerous steps. Many residents of the IT Corridor are complaining that the nearly dozen FOBs are damaged and rusted. R. Ramaswamy, a resident of Sholinganallur said that earlier not many people used the facility to cross the road. “But after the CMRL work began, they have no other go but to utilise it. We have taken up the matter with our MLA," he said.The steel structure has rusted in many places and the paint is slippery when it rains. "The FOBs do not have any roofing and are open to the sky. The handles therefore are hot to touch in the summer. There is no ramp even at locations where people climb on the steps," said S. Suresh, a resident of Thoraipakkam.FOMRRA co-founder Harsha Koda said that when the OMR was designed there were some 13-14 FOBs placed all along the road. They were placed at locations where there were zebra crossings also available. "But not many people used them. Over time these FOBs became a place for retail drug sales and homeless accomodation. The only real use was the revenue TNRDC, which manages the road, got from selling signage space," he said.When Chennai Metrorail started construction, a few FOBs were removed. "We were told that they would integrate the FOBs with the stations and ensure they were well maintained. This remains to be seen. Hopefully they will be installed at high density locations like near schools, colleges and offices," he added. Published - July 30, 2026 02:40 am IST
Discussion (0)