Karnataka adopts cautious stance on Kasturirangan report
Source:The Hindu ↗
આ શા માટે મહત્વનું છે
It addresses the perennial policy dilemma of protecting fragile ecosystems like the Western Ghats while accommodating sub-national developmental aspirations.
સારાંશ
The editorial discusses the Karnataka government's narrowed and cautious posture on the Kasturirangan Report concerning the conservation of the Western Ghats, highlighting the enduring tension between developmental imperatives and ecological preservation in ecologically sensitive zones.
મુખ્ય મુદ્દા
- The Karnataka government has adopted a narrowed political posture regarding the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report on the Western Ghats.
- Local opposition, developmental pressures, and anxieties over livelihood restrictions in Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESAs) have consistently driven resistance against ecological conservation reports like Kasturirangan and Gadgil.
- Balancing environmental security of fragile biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats with state-level developmental demands remains a major governance and policy challenge in India.
મહત્વપૂર્ણ શબ્દો
Kasturirangan Report
A high-level committee appointed by the Union government to review the Gadgil Committee report and recommend conservation measures for the Western Ghats by designating Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
UPSC context
UPSC GS Paper III (Environment & Biodiversity). Tests understanding of environmental governance, biodiversity conservation vs developmental trade-offs, and committee recommendations.
Gadgil Committee Report
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) led by Madhav Gadgil that recommended stringent ecological restrictions across the entire Western Ghats region.
UPSC context
UPSC GS Paper III (Environment & Conservation). Tests knowledge of sustainable development models, ecological sensitivity zones, and environmental activism.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
The apex central ministry responsible for planning, promoting, and implementing environmental, forestry, and climate change policies and regulations across India.
UPSC context
UPSC GS Paper II (Governance) & GS Paper III (Environment). Tests knowledge of institutional framework for environmental regulation in India.
પ્રિલિમ્સ ટ્રેપ
The Kasturirangan Committee recommended classifying the entire Western Ghats into three ecologically sensitive zones with a total ban on all developmental activities.
Aspirants often confuse the two Western Ghats panels, assuming the Gadgil Report proposed a 37% ESA limit, whereas it actually classified the entire Western Ghats into ESZ 1, 2, and 3 with comprehensive curbs, while Kasturirangan recommended ~37% focusing on natural landscapes.
સંલગ્ન સ્થિર ખ્યાલો
What are the key differences between the Gadgil Committee (WGEEP) and Kasturirangan Committee reports on the Western Ghats?
- Scope difference: Whole-scale vs Targeted: Gadgil recommended the entire Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA); Kasturirangan recommended only ~37% (natural landscape) as ESA.
- Zoning framework: Zoning approach: Gadgil proposed three broad Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs) with varying restrictions; Kasturirangan adopted a micro-watershed approach excluding inhabited/plantation areas.
- Regulatory rigor: Mining and Industries: Both recommended bans on mining, quarrying, and red-category industries, but Gadgil emphasized bottom-up democratic governance via Biodiversity Management Committees.
આંતર-વિષય પેટર્ન
Western Ghats conservation vs cooperative federalism
Western Ghats conservation resistance mirrors federalism debates over federal environmental directives conflicting with state-level populist or developmental mandates.
ESAs and indigenous livelihood rights
The exclusion of cultural landscapes from ESAs highlights the challenge of balancing indigenous livelihood rights with strict conservation zoning under the Forest Conservation Act.
Western Ghats committees (Gadgil vs Kasturirangan) vs ESA zoning and mining bans is a favorite pairing for multi-statement prelims.
સંલગ્ન PYQ · 2
સંલગ્ન PYQ · 2
- 2016PrelimsGS1
'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report', sometimes seen in the news, are related to
- 2019MainsGS3
Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.
