Chennai, Jul 23 (IANS): The people from six villages, located adjacent to the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR), have been invited for a public hearing with regard to a plan by the Union government to declare parts of their villages as Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has planned to establish a 1.5-km ESZ around the KMTR.

The public hearing scheduled for July 27 at Kovinthaparei village will be presided over by the District Revenue Officer.

The six villages are Mela Ambur Part 2, Sivasailam, Tharmapuram Madam, Kovinthaperi, Kadayam Perumpathu part 2 and Mela Kadayam.

The meeting will convey to the people in these villages the difficulties they might face if the 1.5-km ESZ is set up adjacent to KMTR.

Once an area is declared as ESZ, it means that activities, including mining, setting of industries causing water, air, sound and noise pollution as well as soil pollution will be no longer be permitted. Similarly, the establishment of brick kiln industries and hydroelectric power projects will not be allowed as well.

However, the district administration in a statement on Saturday said that felling of trees, construction activities, commercial establishment of hotels and resorts, small scale non-polluting industries, erection of electric and communication towers, laying of cable and other infrastructure can be permitted in ESZ areas after adhering to certain conditions.

The farmers and political parties have been protesting in these areas after the information regarding the setting up of ESZ had reached these villages.

Forest and Revenue officials told IANS that the public meeting to be held on July 27 with the locals of the six villages will not lead to any outcome.

However, both the departments are keen that such interactions with the locals are held regularly to spread awareness among them before the ESZ is declared.