New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS): Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday issued a fresh draft notification on eco-sensitive zones for the Western Ghats but assured that people living in the region would not be affected.

"The government is fully committed to protecting the ecology and sanctity of Western Ghats. At the same time, the government is determined to ensure sustainable development of the population staying in the western ghats region," Javadekar said in a statement.

About 50 million people live in the eco-sensitive zone of the Western Ghats region covering six states - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

"The main focus of the ministry is to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats region, while providing adequate opportunities for livelihood security of the local people in the broad paradigm of ecologically sensitive area," the statement said.

The central government on Wednesday announced issuing of a fresh draft notification for notifying an eco sensitive zone for the Western Ghats.

"The fresh draft notification (on September 4) has been issued in supersession of the notification dated March 10, 2014," the statement said.

The earlier draft notification was issued under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.