The recent landslides in Wayanad have reignited focus on the long-delayed final notification of the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats. Efforts to reach a consensus among the six affected states have been ongoing since 2011. The third committee established by the Centre to resolve this issue is in the final stages of discussions and is expected to develop a framework for the Western Ghats ESA by next month.
The five-member committee, led by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar, is reportedly working on three main principles to shape this framework. First, the ESA must be acceptable to all states and stakeholders involved. Second, it is crucial to avoid the fragmentation of habitats as much as possible. Third, the ESA should be intrinsically linked to ecosystem services, ranging from coastal fisheries to microclimate and water conservation, along with biodiversity protection. The panel aims to differentiate its report in tone and tenor from the previous ones by Madhav Gadgil and K. Kasturirangan, which faced strong opposition from stakeholder states. The new framework will not solely focus on conserving biodiversity but will seek to create a constructive and predictive mechanism for the ESA, using a softer and more enabling language to build trust with the communities in the area.
Additionally, each request for exclusion from the ESA by states or stakeholders will undergo rigorous scrutiny, ensuring they are based on strong and defensible grounds. The final decision on whether the ESA remains at the suggested 59,000 square kilometres from the 2022 draft notification, or changes, will be carefully considered. The ultimate challenge will be securing acceptance from the states. Lack of consensus has been the primary hurdle since 2011, when the Gadgil committee first recommended declaring 129,037 square kilometres across six states as ecologically sensitive areas. A parliamentary committee report from December 2022 highlighted the environment ministry’s ongoing efforts to bring convergence among state governments, public representatives, and the general public, despite lingering apprehensions and reservations from various stakeholders.
An expert involved in these discussions, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration over the lack of progress. “At the ground level, there is significant public resistance, mainly due to lack of awareness and absence of other employment opportunities. There is a lack of adequate political will both at the central and state levels—a ‘chalta hai’ attitude. Otherwise, more would have been done on the ground to sensitise people and find solutions,” the expert noted. As the committee works towards a final framework, the focus remains on creating a balanced approach that satisfies both environmental conservation goals and the practical needs of the affected communities.
