Exclusive: 13 years later, protection for Western Ghats areas in 3 states almost ready

📌 Summary:

• Twelve years after its first draft notification, the Centre is finally ready to notify the demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, at least in the three states where disputes are largely resolved
• Over 56,000 sq km across six states are proposed as ESA, based on the 2013 recommendations of the high-level working group led by former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan
• In ESAs, activities such as new mining and quarrying, new thermal power plants, "red category" (most polluting) industries, and large new/expansion building & construction projects (built-up area of 20,000 sq m or above) are proposed to be banned or heavily restricted
• The original draft notification came in 2014 and has been revised five times; Kerala (wants its area further reduced) and Karnataka (questions the entire exercise) continue to hold out, delaying a final all-states notification

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 Environment — conservation vs development trade-offs, Centre-state friction in environmental federalism, biodiversity-hotspot protection; recurring Gadgil vs Kasturirangan debate.

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Western Ghats: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's biodiversity hotspots
• Kasturirangan committee (2013) recommended ~37% of the Western Ghats as ESA; the earlier Gadgil (WGEEP) report had proposed a larger area
• Proposed ESA spans six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
• ESA notifications are issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

🔑 Key Term: Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) — a zone notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 where ecologically damaging activities are banned or regulated to conserve fragile ecosystems.