WESTERN GHATS ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREA (ESA) NOTIFICATION

Why In News?

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) issued the seventh draft notification, to officially declare 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).

What is the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)?

The National Wildlife Action Plan defines an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) as a designated buffer zone surrounding protected national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to minimize the negative impact of human activities on biodiversity.

 The draft notification covers a massive 56,825.7 sq km area spread across six states.

The specific state-wise area distribution includes Karnataka (20,668 sq km), 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).

Why are the Western Ghats Important?

Global Biodiversity Hotspot: The region shelters thousands of unique, endemic, and endangered species of flora and fauna, making it a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: UNESCO declared the Western Ghats a World Heritage Site in July 2012 due to its outstanding universal natural value.

Water Security: The mountain range acts as a crucial water catchment area feeding major peninsular rivers, which ensures immense water security for millions of people across India.

Climate Regulation: The dense forest cover heavily influences monsoon weather patterns and regulates the regional climate to combat global warming.

What Does the Seventh Draft Notification Propose?

Regulation of High-Impact Activities: The draft proposes a complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining, while instructing authorities to phase out existing mines within five years.

Industrial Restrictions: The policy strictly prohibits new thermal power projects and blocks the expansion of highly polluting 'Red' category industries.

Construction Limits: The draft completely restricts large-scale construction projects and new townships covering over 50 hectares to prevent habitat destruction.

Sustainable Development: The notification strongly encourages eco-friendly practices by permitting organic farming, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy use.

Agricultural Safeguards: The guidelines exempt agricultural activities and plantations from disruptions, allowing farmers to continue traditional practices sustainably.

Public Consultation: The government keeps the draft open for 60 days under the Environment Protection Rules, 1986 to invite objections and suggestions from the public, state governments, and stakeholders.

Why Has the ESA Notification Been Delayed?

Concerns of State Governments: Successive drafts since 2014 face strong opposition from peninsular states like Karnataka and Kerala due to fears that strict ESA rules will harm agriculture and local economies.

Balancing Conservation and Development: Stakeholders struggle to find a middle ground between protecting the disaster-prone ecosystem and supporting the developmental aspirations of the local population.

What are the Major Challenges?

Ecological vs Economic Conflict: Heavy state economic reliance on tourism and plantation agriculture directly clashes with stringent ecological conservation laws.

Livelihood Concerns: Local inhabitants actively fear that banning construction and certain farming activities will severely disrupt their daily livelihoods and limit income generation.

Weak Enforcement: Ineffective on-ground enforcement allows illegal mining, deforestation, and human encroachments to persistently degrade the fragile mountain landscape.

Unregulated Urbanisation: The rapid, unregulated growth of resorts, homestays, and regional roads puts immense structural pressure on ecologically vulnerable zones.

Climate Vulnerability: Increasingly extreme weather events, such as unprecedented monsoon rainfall, drastically multiply the fatal risk of landslides and sudden floods.

What Measures Can Strengthen Conservation of the Western Ghats?

Cooperative Federalism: The central government must swiftly finalize the notification by working closely with state governments in a phased manner to overcome the decade-long deadlock.

Community-Based Conservation: Authorities must empower Gram Sabhas and local communities to actively participate in decision-making and forest management operations.

Scientific Monitoring: Establishing an independent Decision Support and Monitoring Centre (DSMC) with ecology experts will rapidly improve real-time tracking of environmental health.

Sustainable Livelihoods: Promoting green initiatives like organic farming and eco-friendly tourism ensures that locals earn steady income without harming nature.

Inter-State Coordination: All six states sharing the Western Ghats must standardize their ecological policies to prevent legal loopholes and cross-border environmental damage.

Climate Adaptation Integration: Adopting the RESTORE Framework (Resilience, Early Warning, Sustainability, and Strategic Collaboration) utilizes advanced AI and machine learning tools for accurate, real-time disaster prediction.

Cumulative Impact Assessments: The government must conduct strict Cumulative Impact Assessments for all developmental projects to fully understand their combined environmental damage in proximity.

Wind Power Classification: Policymakers must classify wind power projects as 'Category-A', making prior environmental clearance absolutely mandatory before construction.

Phasing Out Thermal Power: Authorities must officially phase out existing thermal power plants instead of merely banning new ones, focusing strongly on completely green energy.

Conclusion

Finalizing the Western Ghats ESA notification through cooperative federalism, strict regulation, and community-driven monitoring is paramount to safeguarding its fragile biodiversity and averting future climate disasters.

Source:  THEHINDU