Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area Draft Notification Reissued for the Seventh Time Amid Continuing Centre–State Deadlock

Recent Developments:

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued the seventh draft notification proposing an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats after the previous draft lapsed without final notification.
• The latest draft retains the proposed 56,825.7 sq. km ESA across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and invites public objections for 60 days before finalisation.

About the Western Ghats:

Geographical Features:

• The Western Ghats are a 1,500–1,600 km long mountain chain running parallel to the western coast of Peninsular India.
• The mountain range extends across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Palghat Gap is the most prominent natural break separating the northern and southern Western Ghats.
• The Western and Eastern Ghats converge at the Nilgiri Hills.

Ecological Importance:

• The Western Ghats are recognised as one of the world's eight hottest biodiversity hotspots.
• The region was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 under Criteria (ix) and (x) for its exceptional ecological and biological value.
• The mountain system is geologically older than the Himalayas.
• The ecosystem supports a very high level of endemism in plants, amphibians, reptiles, fishes and mammals.
• The region contains unique ecosystems such as Shola forests, Myristica swamps and montane grasslands.
• The Western Ghats strongly influence the South-West Monsoon by intercepting moisture-laden winds.
• The range forms the catchment of major peninsular rivers including the Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Tungabhadra and Periyar.
• The UNESCO property comprises 39 protected components grouped into 7 sub-clusters, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved forests.

Flagship Species:

• The Western Ghats provide habitat to Lion-tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Langur, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Gaur and numerous endemic amphibians.

Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA):

Meaning and Legal Basis:

• An Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) is a region notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate environmentally harmful developmental activities.
• The objective of ESA notification is to balance ecological conservation with sustainable development rather than imposing a complete prohibition on human activities.

Major Objectives:

• To conserve fragile ecosystems and biodiversity.
• To regulate high-impact developmental activities.
• To reduce ecological degradation and disaster vulnerability.
• To ensure sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel), 2011:

Background:

• The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) chaired by Madhav Gadgil submitted the first comprehensive conservation framework for the Western Ghats in 2011.

Major Recommendations:

• The entire Western Ghats should be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
• The region should be classified into ESZ-1, ESZ-2 and ESZ-3 according to ecological sensitivity.
• Mining, quarrying and highly polluting industries should be prohibited in ESZ-1.
• Existing polluting industries should be phased out from ecologically sensitive regions.
• Sustainable agriculture and organic farming should be promoted.
• Conservation should follow a bottom-up governance model with active participation of Gram Sabhas and local communities.

Concerns Raised by States:

• States argued that the recommendations imposed excessive restrictions on agriculture, plantations and infrastructure development.
• The report was criticised for insufficient consideration of regional socio-economic conditions.
• Several state governments viewed the recommendations as excessively restrictive for development.

Kasturirangan Committee (High Level Working Group), 2012:

Background:

• The High Level Working Group (HLWG) chaired by K. Kasturirangan was constituted to review the Gadgil recommendations and evolve a more balanced framework.

Major Recommendations:

• Only about 37% of the Western Ghats should be notified as an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
• Mining, quarrying, sand mining and thermal power plants should be prohibited within the notified ESA.
• Highly polluting industries should remain under strict regulation.
• Human settlements and agricultural plantations should generally remain outside the notified ESA.
• Hydroelectric projects and major construction activities should be regulated instead of being universally prohibited.
• Conservation and economic development should proceed simultaneously through sustainable development.

Criticism:

• States alleged that the remote sensing-based demarcation included several villages having plantations rather than natural forests.
• Environmental experts argued that some ecologically important regions were excluded from ESA.
• Kerala constituted the Oommen V. Oommen Committee, which recommended further exclusion of plantations and inhabited regions.

Seventh Draft ESA Notification (2026):

Major Features:

• The proposed ESA continues to cover 56,825.7 sq. km across six states.
• The notified area, village list and regulatory framework remain substantially unchanged from the 2024 draft.
• The draft introduces flexibility by permitting phased implementation, either state-wise or through a single combined notification.
• The final notified area will consider recommendations of states, stakeholders and the expert committee.

Prohibited Activities:

• Mining, quarrying and sand mining.
• Establishment of new thermal power plants.
• Establishment of specified highly polluting industries.
• Large-scale construction projects beyond prescribed limits.

Regulated Activities:

• Hydroelectric power projects.
• Major infrastructure and construction activities.
• Agriculture and plantation activities continue without fresh restrictions under the present draft.

Major Issues in the Western Ghats Debate:

Conservation, Development:

• Environmental experts emphasise that strict ecological protection is essential to prevent biodiversity loss, landslides and long-term water insecurity.
• States and local communities seek greater flexibility to protect livelihoods, agriculture and regional development.

Scientific Demarcation, Political Acceptability:

• The Gadgil Committee offered stronger ecological protection but lacked political acceptance.
• The Kasturirangan Committee improved political acceptability but attracted criticism regarding scientific demarcation.
• The absence of broad consensus has delayed final ESA notification for more than a decade.

Federal Governance:

• The Union Government seeks a common conservation framework across the Western Ghats.
• States demand greater autonomy to determine local conservation priorities based on regional conditions.

Increasing Disaster Risk:

• Recurrent landslides and extreme rainfall events in regions such as Wayanad have strengthened calls for stricter ecological regulation.
• Scientists associate increasing disaster vulnerability with deforestation, unplanned construction, quarrying and climate change.

Significance for India:

Environmental Importance:

• Conserves globally significant biodiversity and endemic species.
• Maintains ecological stability and climate regulation across Peninsular India.
• Supports long-term water security through perennial river systems.

Economic Importance:

• Sustains agriculture, plantations, fisheries, hydropower and eco-tourism.
• Provides ecosystem services supporting millions of livelihoods.

Strategic Importance:

• Enhances India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to biodiversity, climate action and sustainable ecosystems.

Way Forward:

Balanced Conservation Framework:

• Conservation policies should integrate ecological science with local socio-economic realities.
• Village-level participatory governance should strengthen long-term environmental stewardship.
• Scientific mapping should combine satellite-based assessment with detailed field verification.
• Sustainable agriculture, eco-tourism and nature-based livelihoods should receive policy support.
• Cooperative federalism should guide the final ESA notification through continuous Centre–State consultation.

Value Addition for UPSC:

Important Facts for Prelims:

• UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2012.
• Global Status: One of the Eight Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots.
• Legal Basis of ESA: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• WGEEP (Gadgil Committee): 2011.
• HLWG (Kasturirangan Committee): 2012.
• UNESCO Criteria: (ix) – Ecological and biological processes, (x) – Biodiversity conservation.
• Important Map Locations: Palghat Gap, Nilgiri Hills, Anaimalai Hills, Cardamom Hills, Agasthyamalai Hills, Doddabetta Peak