The government has set up an expert panel, headed by former chief of Calcutta high courtThottathil B Radhakrishnan, for the physical verification of eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) and other constructions that are present in ESZs around 23 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in state. The committee also includes additional chief secretaries of Environment and LSG departments, principal secretary of forests and wildlife department and former head of forests force James Varghese.
Kerala has already filed a Review Petition before the court on buffer zones. On July 27, the cabinet had decided to rectify its 2019 order and recommend the exclusion of human habitats around national parks and wildlife sanctuaries from the ambit of ESZ. It had given clearance to forest department to exclude such habitats, government and semi-government institutions that are lying close to 23 sanctuaries and national parks in state from the ambit of ESZ.