Western Ghats Protection Stalls as Union Government Reissues Draft for Seventh Time
The Union Environment Ministry has renewed its draft proposal for an ecologically sensitive area across the Western Ghats following the expiration of the previous notice. This latest cycle highlights the persistent deadlock between the Centre and six states over development constraints.
Decade-Long Impasse Persists
The Union Environment Ministry has reissued its draft notification to designate 56,825.7 square kilometers of the Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area (ESA). This marks the seventh attempt in over ten years to formalize protections for the mountain range, following the lapse of the previous draft on July 27. The government has opened a 60-day window for public objections before attempting to finalize the mandate.
This renewed push highlights a significant lack of consensus between the central government and the six affected states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Local governments continue to resist the designation, citing potential economic disruptions to agriculture, plantation management, and infrastructure development. Currently, an expert committee established in 2022 is evaluating state-level objections concerning the specific boundaries and the nomenclature of villages targeted for inclusion.
Stagnant Boundaries and Proposed Restrictions
The 2026 draft maintains the same geographic scope as the 2024 version, with no modifications to the regulatory framework or the list of affected settlements. If ratified, the notification would institute a complete ban on mining, quarrying, sand extraction, and the establishment of new thermal power plants. It also targets specific red-category industries and large-scale construction projects while placing hydel power generation under strict regulatory oversight.
The proposed distribution of the ESA remains as follows:
- Karnataka: 20,668 sq. km
- Maharashtra: 17,340 sq. km
- Kerala: 9,993.7 sq. km
- Tamil Nadu: 6,914 sq. km
- Goa: 1,461 sq. km
- Gujarat: 449 sq. km
Notably, the draft includes 13 villages in Kerala’s Wayanad district—specifically within the Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery, and Vythiri taluks—which have been points of contention in previous rounds of consultation.
Evolution of the Conservation Dispute
The technical debate over the Western Ghats originated in 2011 when a panel led by ecologist Madhav Gadgil proposed designating the entire 1,29,000 sq. km range as sensitive under various tiers of protection. Following state resistance, a subsequent group headed by K. Kasturirangan suggested a smaller ESA covering approximately 37% of the natural landscape, totaling 59,940 sq. km.
Since 2014, successive drafts have attempted to find middle ground. Kerala has already successfully lobbied to reduce its specific share of the ESA from an initial recommendation of 13,108 sq. km to the current 9,993.7 sq. km following independent field verifications. Despite these adjustments, the fundamental disagreement over land use and conservation continues to prevent a final resolution.
Source: The Hindu — News
