Why in the news?

On Friday, the Central government released the sixth draft notification, designating 56,825.7 square kilometre of the Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area (ESA) across the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Recommendations of the Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees

• Gadgil Committee: Recommended that 75% of the Western Ghats (129,037 sq km) be designated as ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) with restrictions on development activities.
• Kasturirangan Committee: Notified only 37% of the Western Ghats as ESAs, reducing the extent compared to the Gadgil report. It split the region into cultural (human settlements) and natural (non-human settlements) zones.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

• ESAs are regions recognized for their environmental significance, where human activities are regulated to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural habitats. These areas are often home to endemic species of plants and animals and are crucial for maintaining ecological balance.
• The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 allows the Central Government to restrict industrial activities in these sensitive areas to safeguard their ecological integrity. Although the term “Eco-Sensitive Zones” is not explicitly mentioned in the Act, provisions exist to prohibit or regulate activities based on biodiversity and environmental considerations.

The reason behind it:

• Biodiversity Hotspot: The Western Ghats is recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to numerous endemic species and globally threatened flora and fauna, making its protection crucial for conserving biodiversity.
• Recent Natural Disasters: The draft notification follows severe landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, which resulted in significant loss of life and property. These events underscored the vulnerability of the region to ecological disasters, highlighting the need for protective measures to prevent further environmental degradation

Opposition from States

• State governments, including Kerala, have opposed the proposals in the draft notifications for declaring ESAs along the Western Ghats.
• The Kerala government want to reduce the ESA to 9,993.7 sq km from the Kasturirangan committee’s recommendation of 13,108 sq km.
• The then Kerala government led by Oommen Chandy opposed the Gadgil report and appointed another panel to come up with an independent report.

New Panel Formed by the Government

• In April 2022, the Centre formed another panel to “re-examine suggestions by these six state governments while keeping in view the conservation aspects of the disaster-prone pristine ecosystem, as well as rights, privileges, needs and developmental aspirations of the region”.
• The Centre and expert panel held 10 meetings with states having Western Ghats to discuss the fifth draft notification at various forums.
• The sixth draft notification, issued on Friday, declared 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats as ESAs in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Way forward: 

• Integrated Management Plans: The Government should develop and implement integrated management plans that balance ecological conservation with the developmental needs of the region.
• Enhanced Monitoring and Enforcement: There is a need to strengthen the regulatory framework by enhancing monitoring mechanisms and enforcing existing environmental laws more stringently.

Mains PYQ: 

Q Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. (2021)

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