Western Ghats: What is the ESA plan for conservation, why it is necessary and the concerns
Context
The Union government has issued a sixth draft notification to declare parts of the Western Ghats as an (ESA) to protect the region's biodiversity. However, finalizing the ESA has been delayed for over a decade due to resistance from the six states encompassing the Ghats, primarily concerning the balance between conservation and economic development. A new expert committee is currently attempting to resolve these disputes and demarcate the final ESA boundaries.
Exam perspectives
The Western Ghats is recognized as one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Madhav Gadgil Committee report (2011) recommended classifying the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) with varying degrees of protection and severe restrictions on developmental activities. Due to opposition, the K. Kasturirangan Committee (2013) was formed, which diluted these recommendations, suggesting only 37% (around 60,000 sq km) of the 'natural landscape' be notified as ESA. The notification of an ESA under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 aims to restrict highly polluting activities like mining, thermal power plants, and large constructions to preserve the fragile ecosystem. However, the prolonged delay in notification has led to continued ecological degradation. From a UPSC perspective, understanding the contrast between the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports regarding the extent of ESA demarcation is crucial for questions on balancing environment and development.
The decade-long delay in finalizing the Western Ghats ESA highlights the challenges of cooperative federalism in environmental governance. Environmental protection is on the Concurrent List (Seventh Schedule), meaning both the Centre and states have jurisdiction. The six states—Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu—have repeatedly objected to the draft notifications, citing concerns over the adverse economic impact on local communities and industries. Karnataka has entirely rejected the Kasturirangan report, while Kerala has sought significant reductions based on its own ground-truthing exercises, attempting to exclude agricultural and plantation areas. The Union Environment Ministry's strategy of issuing multiple draft notifications and the new proposal to finalize ESA state-wise (phased manner) reflects an attempt to bypass total gridlock. This scenario demonstrates the difficulty of implementing top-down conservation policies in a densely populated, economically significant region, making it a prime case study for GS Paper 2 on Centre-State relations and policy implementation hurdles.
The Western Ghats form a continuous mountain chain, extending roughly 1,500 km parallel to the western coast, broken only by the Palakkad Gap. This geographical feature acts as a massive orographic barrier to the southwest monsoon winds, ensuring heavy rainfall on the windward (western) side and a rain shadow effect on the leeward (eastern) side. This immense precipitation sustains major peninsular rivers like the Godavari River, Krishna River, and Kaveri River, making the Ghats a crucial water tower for peninsular India. The region's unique topography, shaped by tectonic movements and volcanic activity, supports diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical evergreen forests to montane grasslands (sholas). Understanding this physical geography is essential for GS Paper 1, as the preservation of the Western Ghats is not just about biodiversity, but also about maintaining the hydrological cycle and regional climate stability upon which millions depend.
Key references
AI-generated study notes, sourced from Indian Express. Verify facts and figures with standard sources.