Seventh Draft Notified for Western Ghats Ecological Zones: 56,825 Sq Km Proposed
The Union Environment Ministry has released the seventh draft notification proposing to demarcate 56,825 square kilometres across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats. This comes after six previous drafts since 2014 failed to achieve consensus among the states.
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans approximately 1,500 kilometres along India's west coast, covering Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The region is known for its rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystem.
The latest draft notification, published in the official gazette on Monday, invites objections and suggestions from the public within 60 days. After this period, the ministry will consider the feedback before issuing a final notification. The draft also includes a provision allowing the final notification to be issued in a phased manner, either state-wise or through a combined single notification, which could expedite the process without requiring all six states to agree simultaneously.
One of the main sticking points has been objections from peninsular states, particularly Kerala, which has argued that the proposed restrictions on certain activities would adversely affect the livelihoods of local communities. However, the draft clarifies that agricultural and plantation activities will not be affected by the provisions.
The proposed ESA areas include 20,668 sq km in Karnataka, 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra, 9,993 sq km in Kerala, 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu, 1,461 sq km in Goa, and 449 sq km in Gujarat. The actual area will be finalised based on recommendations from states, stakeholder views, and an expert committee.
The issue of protecting the Western Ghats dates back to August 2011, when a panel led by ecologist Madhav Gadgil recommended declaring the region a 'no-go zone' for environmentally hazardous activities. The first draft notification was issued in March 2014, but disagreements have delayed implementation. The sixth draft was issued shortly after major landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district in 2024, and the seventh draft follows recent landslides in the same area, which experts attribute to deforestation and haphazard development.
The Environment Ministry stated that the proposal will be considered for the final notification after the 60-day public consultation period. The draft aims to prohibit or regulate environmentally harmful human activities in the sensitive zones while balancing conservation with local developmental needs.
