Current Affairs

Sign in
GeographyGS3
GS3

Western Ghats Eco Sensitive Area Draft Notification And Panels

Source:riceias ↗

Why It Matters

Crucial for MPSC aspirants tracking environmental governance, ecological conservation policies in Maharashtra, and committees related to the Western Ghats.

Summary

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has reissued a draft notification to designate an extensive area of the Western Ghats across six states as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA), restricting harmful industrial, mining, and construction practices based on the Kasturirangan committee recommendations.

Key Points

  • The Centre has reissued a draft notification declaring parts of the Western Ghats as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA).
  • The notification covers a total area across six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Proposes restrictions on certain developmental activities like mining, quarrying, thermal power plants, and large construction projects to protect the ecologically fragile region.
  • Based on the recommendations of the high-level working group led by K. Kasturirangan, which succeeded the earlier Madhav Gadgil committee report.

Important Terms

Environment Protection Act, 1986

An umbrella legislation enacted in 1986 that empowers the Central Government to take all necessary measures to protect and improve the quality of the environment and prevent environmental pollution across India.

UPSC context

Crucial for MPSC General Studies Paper I (Geography) and Paper III (Environment & Ecology); tests statutory frameworks for biodiversity and pollution control.

Source
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

The apex central government ministry in India responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry policies and wildlife conservation programs.

UPSC context

Important for MPSC Governance and Environment sections; tests institutional mechanisms, policy formulation, and administrative governance regarding conservation.

Source

Prelims Trap

Both the Madhav Gadgil and K. Kasturirangan committees recommended designating 37 percent of the Western Ghats as an Eco-Sensitive Area.

Aspirants often confuse the two committees; Gadgil recommended the *entire* Western Ghats as ESA, whereas Kasturirangan recommended only about *37%* of it.

Static Concepts Connected

Environment and Ecology - Biodiversity Conservation

What are the key differences between the Madhav Gadgil and K. Kasturirangan committees on the Western Ghats?

  • Gadgil Scope: Gadgil Committee (WGEHW) recommended declaring the entire Western Ghats as an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) with graded zones (Eco-Sensitive Zones 1, 2, and 3).
  • Kasturirangan Scope: Kasturirangan Committee recommended bringing only 37% of the Western Ghats under the ESA category, adopting a more developmental-friendly approach.
  • Prohibitions: Both committees emphasized banning mining, sand quarrying, and thermal power plants in the most sensitive tracts.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Western Ghats ESA vs. Federalism

    The Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports highlight the friction between developmental needs in states like Maharashtra/Kerala and long-term ecological security under federal environmental laws.

Kasturirangan vs Gadgil committee recommendations and the 6 states covered are a recurrent MPSC Geography and Environment matching trap.

Linked PYQs · 3

Linked PYQs · 3

  • 2017MPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which of the following mountains are considered as one of the top biodiversity hot spots ?

  • 2024MPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Match the following pairs : | List-I | List-II | |---|---| | (a) Dr. Nitin Karmalkar Committee | (i) For implementation of National Education Policy - 2020 in Maharashtra | | (b) Nitin Karir Committee | (ii) To enquire the incident which happened during the distribution of Maharashtra Bhushan Award | | (c) Sunil Pawar Committee | (iii) To study why the rates of onion collapse. | | (d) Dr. K. Kasturirangan Committee | (iv) To make the syllabus for pre-primary to degree according to National Education Policy - 2020 | Code: (a) (b) (c) (d)

  • 2015MPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Match the following : | List 1 (Environmental Legislation) | List 2 (Years) | |---|---| | A. Environmental Protection Act | I. 1991 | | B. Scheme of labelling of environment friendly products | II. 2000 | | C. Biomedical Waste Management Rules | III. 1986 | | D. Municipal Solid Wastes Management Rules | IV. 1998 | Code: A B C D