Kerala: Several protesters attacked a bar hotel in Kozhikode Kerala and torched it, during 12 hour long strike over implementation of Kasturirangan Committee Report on Western Ghats.They torched it and set it ablaze. While one person was injured, no casualties were reported. There were similar clashes in several parts of Kerala, including Idukki and Wayanad, barring Munnar which was exempted due to ongoing Subramanian Swamy Festival.
The Protest comes after the recommendation made by Dr. K.  Kasturirangan committee report on recommendations of the Western Ghats Ecology Experts Panel.  It proposes protecting 90 per cent of the region’s ‘natural landscape’ as ecological sensitive area.
Acting on the recommendations, the Environment ministry  declares the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) over 37% of the Western Ghats under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which bars mining in ecologically fragile areas, setting up of thermal plants and restricts buildings to less than 20,000 sq ft in 123 villages.
The Panel says that the Western Ghats is a biological treasure trove that is endangered, and it needs to be “protected and regenerated, indeed celebrated for its enormous wealth of endemic species and natural beauty.
Earlier,  Madhav Gadgil Committee report  submitted the WGEEP 2011 led to protests by several organizations in the state.  The Gadgil Report proposed categorisation of the Western Ghats in three zones of varied ecological sensitivity. Activists say that if Gadgil recommendations were implemented in toto, districts like Wayanad and Idukki will see no human population at all.
Following Outcry, Union Environment Ministry,  deputed 10 member committee led by Planning Commission member Dr. K Kasturirangan to make an assessment.