Government re-issues draft notification declaring over 56 K sq km of Western Ghats as eco-sensitive area
Source Entity
Nikhil Ghanekar
The Centre has issued its seventh draft notification to declare 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats as an ecologically sensitive area. This move faces ongoing opposition from states like Kerala over concerns regarding local livelihoods and infrastructure development.
The Seventh Attempt: Protecting the Western Ghats
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially released the seventh iteration of a draft notification aimed at designating 56,825.7 square kilometers of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). This biodiversity hotspot, which stretches across 1,500 km, encompasses land in six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The re-issuance comes immediately after the sixth draft lapsed on July 27, 2026, marking over a decade of bureaucratic deadlock between the Centre and the affected states.
The Scope of the Proposal
The proposed ESA is distributed unevenly across the six states, reflecting the vast geographical footprint of the mountain range. Karnataka holds the largest proposed portion with 20,668 sq km, followed by Maharashtra (17,340 sq km), Kerala (9,993.7 sq km), Tamil Nadu (6,914 sq km), Goa (1,461 sq km), and Gujarat (449 sq km). While Gujarat and Goa have shown a greater degree of alignment with the Centre’s proposals, other states remain deeply hesitant, fearing the socio-economic ramifications of stringent land-use restrictions.
Regulatory Impact and Prohibitions
If finalized, the notification imposes strict prohibitions on environmentally hazardous activities within the designated zones. These include a total ban on new mining, quarrying, sand mining, the establishment of new thermal power plants, and large-scale construction projects. Additionally, activities such as hydel power generation would fall under strict regulatory oversight. The objective is to mitigate the degradation of a fragile ecosystem that is vital for the region's hydrological stability and climate resilience.
The Source of the Deadlock
The core of the conflict lies in the tension between environmental conservation and regional development. States, particularly Kerala, have expressed significant apprehension regarding how these restrictions will impact the livelihoods of local communities, agricultural practices, and essential infrastructure development. Critics of the notification argue that the top-down approach fails to account for the ground realities of those living within or near the proposed ESA, leading to a decade of stalled progress since the initial efforts began in 2011.
Looking Ahead: The Path to Finalization
The current draft notification provides a 60-day window for public objections and suggestions. This period is critical for the MoEFCC to reconcile the competing interests of state governments and environmental experts. The failure to finalize the notification after six previous attempts highlights the complex political economy of conservation in India. Future trends suggest that unless the Centre can foster a more collaborative framework that addresses state-specific livelihood concerns, the cycle of drafting and lapsing may continue, leaving this vital ecosystem in a state of regulatory limbo.
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