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Relevance: GS-III (Environment & Conservation); GS-II (Centre-State Relations) Source: Ministry of Environment Updates, 2026

1 · What is the news in simple words?

The Western Ghats form one of the world’s most beautiful and delicate mountain ranges. To protect them from destruction and prevent deadly landslides, the Central Government wants to declare a large part of it as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA). In this zone, harmful mining and massive construction would be strictly banned.

However, for the seventh time in ten years, the government has only managed to release a “draft” of these rules, not a final law. Why the long delay? The six states sharing these mountains are deeply worried. They fear that strict environmental bans will hurt local farmers, stop road building, and freeze economic growth. This ongoing debate highlights a classic UPSC challenge: how do we effectively balance saving nature with protecting the daily livelihoods of common citizens?

2 · The Story of the Deadlock (Step-by-Step Flow)

Step 1: The Gadgil Report (2011)
Ecologist Madhav Gadgil recommended protecting the entire Western Ghats. States strongly rejected this, fearing it would halt all human and economic progress.
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Step 2: The Kasturirangan Report
To find a middle path, the Kasturirangan committee reduced the protected zone. They suggested marking only 37% of the region as an Eco-Sensitive Area.
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Step 3: State Pushback Continues
Even with a smaller area, states like Kerala conducted their own surveys to shrink the boundaries further, deeply worried about losing agricultural lands.
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Step 4: The 7th Draft (July 2026)
The Centre has reissued the draft rules to keep the legal process alive. Citizens and state governments now have 60 days to submit their final suggestions.

3 · Key Environmental Concepts Explained

Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA)
The Protected Zone
An ESA is a highly sensitive region where destructive activities like mining, sand digging, and massive thermal power plants are strictly banned by law.
The 6 States
A Shared Responsibility
The mountains run through six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka holds the largest share of the proposed protected area.
Regulated vs. Banned
Not a Complete Freeze
Not everything is banned. Essential projects like hydel power (water dams) are allowed, but they are strictly monitored and “regulated” to ensure public safety.
Global Importance
Why It Matters
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Protecting these mountains is crucial for sustaining our monsoon rains, stopping deadly landslides, and saving rare wildlife.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts
Proposed Area Size The latest draft notification aims to protect 56,825.7 sq. km of the Western Ghats.
Gadgil vs. Kasturirangan The Gadgil committee wanted 100% protection. The Kasturirangan committee scaled this down to roughly 37% to balance development and ecology.
Kerala’s Modification Kerala did its own mapping and successfully reduced its eco-zone to 9,993.7 sq. km, though disputes over villages in Wayanad still remain unresolved.
Public Window Whenever a draft notification is issued, the public is legally given 60 days to file objections before it becomes a final, binding law.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to the conservation of the Western Ghats, consider the following statements:

  1. The Kasturirangan Committee recommended a much larger area of the Western Ghats for protection compared to the earlier Gadgil Committee.
  2. Once an area is declared an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA), all types of hydel power generation are completely banned.
  3. The Western Ghats are spread over exactly six Indian states.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 3 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 3 only

  • Statement 1 — Incorrect: It is the exact opposite. The Gadgil Committee wanted the entire region protected. The Kasturirangan Committee scaled it down to a more balanced 37%.
  • Statement 2 — Incorrect (the trap): While mining and highly polluting thermal plants are completely banned, hydel power generation is not banned; it is only strictly regulated.
  • Statement 3 — Correct: The mountain range formally spans six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
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