Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday demanded the UDF government end its “silence” on the seventh draft notification on ecologically sensitive area (ESA) zone across the Western Ghats issued by the Centre.Mr. Vijayan said he had not seen any reaction from the State government so far, and this “silence” was worrisome for the affected sections of the society. In issuing the draft notification, the Centre has rejected the report submitted by the previous LDF government that had avoided populated areas and farmlands.This has created insecurity and apprehension in the people, he said.Mr. Vijayan was referring to the draft notification regarding the ecologically sensitive area (ESA) zone across the Western Ghats issued on July 27. The draft designates 9,993.7 sq km in 133 villages in Kerala as ESA. Kerala had asked the Centre to reduce the number of villages to 98 and exempt 1,300 sq km of populated areas from the list, he said.Mr. Vijayan demanded the UDF government to be swift in clarifying its stand on the matter, terming it as one that has implications for the whole of Kerala. Published - August 01, 2026 08:06 pm IST