On Western Ghats, South must break impasse, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The implementation of the Kasturirangan Committee Report for Western Ghats protection has been pending for over 12 years.
• The report proposed declaring 60,000 sq km, or 37%, of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
• State governments initially resisted the ESA declaration due to concerns over development restrictions.
• Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa have now agreed, potentially securing ESA status for approximately 19,000 sq km.
• The Western Ghats is a global biodiversity hotspot and crucial for India's monsoon patterns and major rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Kasturirangan Committee was constituted in 2012 to review the recommendations of the earlier Madhav Gadgil Committee Report.
• The committee recommended a ban on mining, polluting industries, thermal power plants, and large constructions within the proposed ESA.
• Resistance from states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu stems from the perceived conflict between environmental protection and economic development.
• Incidents such as the 2018 Kerala floods and the 2024 Wayanad landslide underscore the ecological fragility of the Western Ghats.
• The region provides critical ecological services including water security, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, and climate regulation.
• A proposed solution involves establishing a system to remunerate local communities for these ecological services, aligning economic aspirations with environmental goals.
• Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu collectively hold about two-thirds of the area proposed for ESA status by the committee.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Kasturirangan Committee Report: A 2013 report recommending 37% of the Western Ghats be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
• Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA): Geographically delineated areas notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for their ecological importance.
• Western Ghats: A mountain range along India's western coast, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biodiversity hotspot.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: A biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation.
• Ecological Services: Benefits that humans receive from ecosystems, such as clean water, pollination, and climate regulation.