India to Notify Western Ghats' Eco-Sensitive Zones on a State-by-State Basis

The Centre may take a gradual approach to notify eco-sensitive areas in the Western Ghats, sources revealed on Monday. Declaring the entire region as an eco-sensitive area (ESA) at once might not be practical, they said. The Union Environment Ministry has issued six draft notifications since March 2014 to declare over 56,825.7 square kilometres across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu as eco-sensitive. However, the final notification remains pending due to state objections.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that an expert panel, formed in April 2022 under former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar, is collaborating with states to resolve the issue. The panel realised that declaring the entire region as an ESA simultaneously is not feasible. Instead, it would be more effective to notify areas state-by-state gradually.

Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas

The draft notification proposes to declare 9,993.7 square kilometres in Kerala as ecologically sensitive. This includes 13 villages in two talukas of Wayanad district: Periya, Thirunelli, Thondernad, Thrissilery, Kidanganad and Noolpuzha in Mananthavady taluka; and Achooranam, Chundel, Kottappadi, Kunnathidavaka, Pozhuthana, Thariyod and Vellarimala in Vythiri taluka. The July 30 landslides affected Vythiri's Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Attamala, which have not been included in previous draft notifications.

Overall, the notification proposes to declare 449 square kilometres in Gujarat, 17,340 square kilometres in Maharashtra, 1,461 square kilometres in Goa, 20,668 square kilometres in Karnataka, 6,914 square kilometres in Tamil Nadu and 9,993.7 square kilometres in Kerala as ecologically sensitive. The fresh draft notification issued on July 31 indicates that the panel headed by Kumar has held nine meetings since July 2022 to address various objections and suggestions from the states.

Environmental Concerns and Measures

The committee is addressing issues raised by states regarding discrepancies or information gaps in the draft notification dated July 6, 2022. This includes verifying correct names and areas of villages to be included as ecologically sensitive areas. The committee is also examining suggestions received from state governments.

The draft notification suggests a complete ban on mining activities such as quarrying and sand mining. Existing mines are to be phased out within five years from the date of the final notification or upon expiry of existing leases. It also prohibits new thermal power projects while allowing existing ones to continue without expansion.

Large-scale construction projects and townships are proposed to be prohibited except for repair and renovation of existing buildings. All Red category industries identified as highly polluting by pollution control boards will be banned from expanding.

Historical Context

In 2010, the Centre established the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel under ecologist Madhav Gadgil to study the impact of population pressure, climate change and development activities on this global biodiversity hotspot. The panel recommended declaring the entire hill range as an ESA divided into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) based on their eco-sensitivity.

However, these recommendations faced resistance from state governments, industries and local communities. In response to this opposition, a High-Level Working Group was formed under rocket scientist K Kasturirangan in 2013 to study and recommend measures for ecological protection and sustainable development of the Western Ghats.

This group identified 37 per cent of the Western Ghats covering 59,940 square kilometres as ecologically sensitive. Despite these efforts over the years, a final consensus has yet to be reached among all stakeholders involved.

Dense human habitations have developed in some places leading to law and order situations. Therefore consultations with states will continue before notifying areas where consensus has been achieved according to sources.

The recent notification came just after a series of landslides claimed over 300 lives in Kerala's Wayanad district. Scientists attributed this disaster to forest cover loss combined with mining activities in fragile terrains along with climate change impacts.

The Centre's incremental approach aims at balancing ecological protection with developmental needs while addressing concerns raised by various stakeholders involved throughout this process.

The ongoing consultations between central authorities and state governments highlight efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals while preserving ecological balance within one of India's most significant natural landscapes - The Western Ghats