Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has urged settlers in high ranges forming part of the Western Ghats to remain calm, assuring them of protection to their livelihood.

This comes in the wake of widespread unrest and incidents of arson in the northern districts after the Centre notified Kasturirangan panel prescriptions on the Ghats ecology.

The Chief Minister said that there was no cause for panic since the proposed ban would apply only to ecologically dangerous activities.

The Centre’s notification said that mining, quarrying, construction of thermal plants and high-rise buildings would be banned in identified ecologically sensitive areas.

“The ban would not come in the way of the common man and his livelihood,” Chandy said here.

An experts’ panel set up by the State government recently on the issue will continue to be relevant irrespective of the Centre’s notification, he added.

The Kasturirangan panel has identified as ‘ecologically fragile’ at least 121 villages in various districts in the State and teeming with farmer population.

EVICTION FEARS

This has led to fears of eviction or displacement from these areas which grow a variety of crops, including spices and long-gestation ones such as rubber, tea and coffee.

The chain of untoward incidents was triggered in Kannur when protesters rounded up forest personnel they mistook as enforcers of conservation measures on Thursday evening.

Kozhikode district observed a hartal on Thursday marred by violent incidents while Idukki and Malappuram will shut down on Friday.

The Opposition Left Democratic Front has teamed up with non-political farmers’ outfits to spearhead the protest activities.

> vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

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