Centre Issues Draft Notification to Declare Over 56,800 Sq Km of Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd August. The Centre has released a draft notification to declare more than 56,800 square kilometers of the Western Ghats across six states, including 13 villages in Kerala’s landslide-hit Wayanad, as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). This notification, issued on July 31, invites suggestions and objections within 60 days.

The draft follows devastating landslides in Wayanad on July 30 that claimed over 300 lives. Scientists attribute the disaster to a combination of forest cover loss, mining in fragile terrains, and climate change. The notification proposes to declare 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala, including 13 villages in the landslide-affected district, as ecologically sensitive. The villages include Periya, Thirunelli, Thondernad, Thrissilery, Kidanganad, and Noolpuzha in Mananthavady taluka, and Achooranam, Chundel, Kottappadi, Kunnathidavaka, Pozhuthana, Thariyod, and Vellarimala in Vythiri taluka. However, the landslide-affected villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamala in Vythiri taluka are not included in the draft notification.

Overall, the draft aims to designate 56,825.7 sq km as ecologically sensitive, encompassing 449 sq km in Gujarat, 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra, 1,461 sq km in Goa, 20,668 sq km in Karnataka, 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu, and 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala. An official mentioned that the latest draft is more detailed and noted, “We are hopeful that it will finally be notified.”

The environment ministry has issued six draft notifications since March 10, 2014, but final notification is pending due to objections from states. According to the fresh draft, an expert panel formed in April 2022 has held nine meetings to address issues raised by states about the draft notification from July 6, 2022.

The draft suggests a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining, with existing mines to be phased out within five years. It prohibits new thermal power projects while allowing existing ones to continue without expansion. ‘Red’ category industries (highly polluting) and their expansion will also be banned. Large-scale construction projects and townships are proposed to be prohibited, with exceptions for repair and renovation of existing buildings.

In 2010, the Centre formed the “Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel” under ecologist Madhav Gadgil to study the impact of population pressure, climate change, and development activities on the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in July 2012. The panel recommended in 2011 that the entire hill range be declared an ESA and divided into three Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, 2, and 3) based on eco-sensitivity. It proposed a ban on mining, quarrying, new thermal power plants, hydropower projects, and large-scale wind energy projects in ESZ 1.

These recommendations faced resistance from state governments, industries, and local communities. In 2013, the Centre formed a High-Level Working Group under rocket scientist K Kasturirangan to study and recommend measures for the Western Ghats’ ecological protection and sustainable development. This group identified 37 percent of the Western Ghats, covering 59,940 square kilometers, as ecologically sensitive.