Environmental activists are dismayed at the way the clearances for these projects, located within the eco-sensitive zones (10 km by default), have been granted. According to environmental activists, clearance was also given to an underground natural gas pipeline from Ramanathapuram to Thoothukudi, which would pass through the default 10-km of eco-sensitive zone of three bird sanctuaries and the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. A former member of the wildlife board warned against mass clearances. “Two years ago, several proposals were blindly cleared but the National Wildlife Board and the courts cancelled most of them,” he said. “The idea of creating an eco-sensitive zone is to protect the areas from development and population pressure.

Source: The Hindu January 24, 2018 19:30 UTC