Government re-issues draft notification declaring over 56 K sq km of Western Ghats as eco-sensitive area

2026-07-30 · 3 min

Seventh draft notification re-issued to declare 56,825.7 sq km of Western Ghats as Eco-Sensitive Area.

## UPSC CSE Context ### Why in News Seventh draft notification re-issued to declare 56,825.7 sq km of Western Ghats as Eco-Sensitive Area.

### Syllabus Connection GS Paper 3: Environment – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

### Exam Relevance Highlights federal tensions in environmental governance and the balance between conservation and development, relevant for Mains answer writing.

## Core Issue Prolonged deadlock over Western Ghats ESA notification due to state opposition.

### Key Development Centre re-issues draft ESA notification as previous one lapsed, extending expert committee tenure.

### Stakeholders - MoEFCC - Six Western Ghats states (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) - Expert committee headed by Sanjay Kumar - Kasturirangan Committee - Gadgil Committee

## Static Knowledge ### High-Value Background - Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity.

### Exam Linkage - Useful for questions on sustainable development, federalism in environmental governance, and ESA regulations.

### Concepts in Context - Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESAs) are zones notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, where certain activities are regulated or prohibited.

### Institutions and Mechanisms - Expert committees (Gadgil, Kasturirangan) provide scientific basis for ESA demarcation.

## Dynamic Analysis ### Federalism and Governance - State opposition, especially Karnataka's, reflects tension between central conservation mandates and regional development priorities. - Repeated draft notifications indicate weak consensus-building mechanisms in environmental governance. - Phased finalisation provision acknowledges state-specific concerns but may delay holistic protection.

### Environment and Conservation - Proposed bans on mining, thermal plants, and red-category industries aim to protect biodiversity and reduce disaster risks. - Delay in notification leaves ecologically fragile areas vulnerable to unregulated development and habitat loss. - Expert committee tenure extension suggests scientific reassessment is ongoing, but political deadlock persists.

### Development vs. Livelihoods - Restrictions on construction and township projects may impact local economic aspirations and employment. - Phasing out existing mines within five years raises concerns about livelihood displacement without clear rehabilitation plans. - Balancing conservation with 'rights, privileges, needs and developmental aspirations' remains a core challenge.

## Prelims Takeaways - ESAs are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

## Mains Value Addition ### Arguments - Repeated draft notifications without finalisation undermine regulatory certainty and conservation effectiveness. - State-level opposition highlights the need for fiscal incentives to compensate for development restrictions in ESAs. - Phased notification approach may create uneven protection, leading to ecological fragmentation across state boundaries.

### Examples - Karnataka's continued opposition despite multiple drafts illustrates the challenge of implementing top-down environmental regulations in a federal polity.

### Data Points - Proposed ESA covers 56,825.7 sq km across six states; Karnataka has the largest share (20,668 sq km).

### Counterpoints - Complete ban on mining and thermal plants may affect energy security and mineral availability for local industries. - Local communities may view ESA restrictions as infringing on their traditional rights and livelihood options.

## Way Forward - Establish a formal inter-state council with financial mechanisms to incentivize conservation compliance. - Conduct transparent, participatory mapping of ESAs involving local bodies and gram sabhas. - Link ESA notification with compensatory afforestation and green bonus schemes for cooperating states. - Set a binding timeline for final notification to prevent indefinite regulatory uncertainty.

Source: National Affairs