Western Ghats conservation once again becomes a political controversy
Introductory Memo: The article discusses the continuing controversy over the Centre’s proposal to declare large parts of the Western Ghats in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA), despite opposition from Kerala and Karnataka. It explains that Kerala wants inhabited areas, agricultural land and plantations excluded, while the Centre’s expert committee has maintained that ecologically fragile regions should not be diluted, particularly in light of devastating landslides and floods in Wayanad, Kavalappara and other parts of Kerala. The article compares the recommendations of the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees, noting that Gadgil advocated stronger environmental protection and major restrictions on mining, construction and human intervention, whereas Kasturirangan proposed a more development-oriented approach while still identifying ecologically sensitive areas for protection. It highlights the Western Ghats’ exceptional biodiversity and ecological importance, argues that unregulated human activities have increased environmental risks, and concludes that protection of the region should be treated as a long-term environmental and human-survival issue rather than primarily as a matter of political or electoral considerations.
Analytical view/ Analysis: This is a confrontation between vote bank politics and preservation of nature and environment. Kerala and Karnataka are in fore front against the EFL preservation recommended by Madhav Gadgil and Kasthuri Rangan. National interest and humanitarian interest of the mother earth should prevail.
Kerala and Karnataka have come out against the recommendation to designate ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. A setback to the demand to withdraw the recommendation. There are indications that the central government has decided not to compromise on the recommendation of the Kasturirangan Committee for the protection of the Western Ghats. The expert committee rejected Kerala’s demand to completely exclude 31 villages in the Idukki and Wayanad districts of Kerala from the ecologically sensitive zone. The central government has once again issued a draft notification in this regard. In addition to Kerala, this will also apply to the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
In the draft notification issued by the Centre in 2024, an area of 9993.7 square kilometres across 131 villages in 12 districts of Kerala was declared an ecologically fragile area. Kerala had demanded that this limit be reduced to 8590.69 square kilometres. 34 percent of Kerala’s total land area is considered an ecologically fragile area. In Karnataka, this is 11 % of the total land area. This will affect the people of 1449 Karnataka villages in 10 districts, namely Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Mysuru, Hassan, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, and Belagavi. In the draft notification reissued on July 27, 2026, the central government had allowed time until September 25 to submit objections.
Kerala’s demand was to include only the forest areas as ecologically fragile areas, while leaving inhabited areas, agricultural land, and plantations as they are. Behind this was a political move to ensure that the land held by encroachers and settlers could continue to be used by them for residence and cultivation. Christian churches and religious leaders had publicly come forward and staged protests raising this demand. It was in response to this demand from farmers and churches that the proposal to exclude ecologically sensitive-fragile areas was submitted to the central government. Kerala and Karnataka have again submitted the same demand to the central government. However, many people died in the landslides and disasters that occurred at Kavalappara in Malappuram district in 2019 and in Wayanad in 2024. The opinion of environmental experts and scientists that human interventions in the Western Ghats were behind the disasters also gained prominence. Madhav Gadgil, who conducted the first study, reiterated this at the time. ‘Whether I am there or not, the present generation itself will have to answer for the ecological interventions and misuse in the Western Ghats. You will have to see that happen’ were Gadgil’s words. Taking all these factors into account, the central expert committee headed by Sanjay Kaul adopted the firm position that ecologically fragile areas cannot be excluded.
Madhav Gadgil, Kasturirangan, and Dr. V S Vijayan, a prominent environmental scientist from Kerala, had warned that Kerala would witness an even more devastating disaster after the floods of 2018 and 2019. Around five hundred people died in Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad and Kavalappara in Malappuram. Numerous houses were destroyed, crops were ruined, and entire mountains were washed away. Two and a half lakh people reached relief camps during the floods. Thousands of homes were lost. Although the Kerala reconstruction project worth Rs 3,600 crore was implemented with World Bank assistance, so far there is no knowledge of anything having been done other than opening an office. Gadgil had recommended that mining in the Western Ghats be completely banned, human intervention be reduced, natural forests be preserved, elephant corridors be allowed to continue in their natural form, and there should be no human intervention in the ecological habitat. Kerala witnessed the strongest protests in South India against Gadgil’s recommendations. Christian churches that had encroached into forest areas came out united. The churches made extremely harsh remarks against P.T. Thomas, who supported the Gadgil report. While P.T. Thomas was still alive, a procession was held under the leadership of the church carrying his bier.
Madhav Gadgil made prophetic revelations in his report about Kerala’s environmental problems and human interventions in the Western Ghats regions. Madhav Gadgil and his team conducted their study in the Western Ghats regions from March 2010 to August 2011. The committee’s areas of study were the state of the environment in the Western Ghats region, identifying fragile areas, and suggesting ways to protect and revive them. The Western Ghats region covers 1,29,037 square kilometres. Parallel to the Arabian Sea, from Kanyakumari to the Tapi River in Maharashtra, the Western Ghats are a continuous forest region stretching 1500 kilometres. The Nilgiris, Anamalai, Elamalai, and Agasthyamalai are part of it. Mountains rising 500 metres above sea level have been included in the Western Ghats mountain range. The Biligirirangan Hills in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are also included. Anamudi, rising 2695 metres above sea level, is the highest mountain in the Western Ghats.
Evergreen tropical forests, shola forests, grasslands, laterite plateaus, rivers flowing eastward and westward, and an elephant corridor stretching from the southernmost to the northernmost end are the distinctive features of the Western Ghats region. The Western Ghats are a treasure trove of biodiversity, including around 4000 species of flowering plants, 645 evergreen tree species, between 850 and 1000 small plant species, 682 species of mosses including rare ones, 350 species of ants, 33 species of butterflies, 174 species of dragonflies, 269 species of snails, 258 species of fish, 22 species of amphibians, 225 species of reptiles, 500 species of birds, and 120 species of mammals. Very rare and endangered birds, including the great hornbill, are also found here. Gadgil recommended protecting the Western Ghats without any kind of external intervention. He also recommended eliminating construction activities, mining, agriculture, and plantations. He had warned that 40 % destruction had already occurred in the Western Ghats region and that there was a possibility of major disasters occurring.
It was when the protests against the report intensified that Kasturirangan, former chairman of ISRO and a prominent scientist, was again appointed to conduct a study in 2013. Kasturirangan recommended that 123 villages were ecologically sensitive and should be made completely free of settlements. Anticipating landslides and earthquake risks, he had also recommended that mining and rock quarrying be completely excluded from the Western Ghats region. Madhav Gadgil primarily stood for environmental protection and the complete preservation of the Western Ghats region without any human intervention. Kasturirangan, on the other hand, took a somewhat more balanced approach, giving priority to habitation, agriculture, development-oriented activities, and environmentally compatible development. Madhav Gadgil divided the Western Ghats into three zones and recommended that 64 % to 70 % of the area (approximately 1,37,000 square kilometres) be completely protected. Kasturirangan stated that approximately 60,000 square kilometres, constituting 37 percent of the Western Ghats, were ecologically fragile areas and should be completely protected. Madhav Gadgil prepared the report by directly visiting the entire region at the local level with the help of gram sabhas and panchayats. Kasturirangan used satellite surveys and remote sensing systems.
Madhav Gadgil demanded that mining, rock quarrying, hydroelectric projects, large dams, and changes in land use be banned in the Western Ghats regions. While the Kasturirangan report recommended banning mining, rock quarrying, and sand mining, it supported the construction of hydroelectric projects and dams. He also recommended that industries in the Red category should not be established in this region. The main criticism raised against the Gadgil report was that it would require widespread displacement. Although the Kasturirangan report was generally considered somewhat more practical, environmentalists do not accept it. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed a resolution against the notification of ecologically sensitive areas. It is certain that this issue will also be reflected in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, which is going to meet within two weeks.
In the context of disasters including Wayanad, the protection of the Western Ghats can no longer be ignored. It was with this in mind that the central expert committee also made its recommendation. There are indications that the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi take the position that political interventions or influence should not be allowed in this matter. Environmental activists say that if attempts are made to dilute such an important matter in the name of Christian outreach, it would be an offence against future generations. Kerala has witnessed the loss of more than a thousand lives over the past four years. A disaster also occurred last week following a landslide. The protection of the Western Ghats is essential. Environmental activists and social scientists say that instead of viewing this from the perspective of vote-bank politics, it should be viewed as part of the survival of future generations and humanity.
Reference
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News at a Glance: Once again the time limit set for filing objection on the EFL area ended .Karnataka Assembly passed a resolution and Kerala demanded for excluding more areas from the list
Academic Insight: Gadgil Report and Kasthuri Rangan report unanimously recommends for banning mining, quarrying and soil conservation. Political organizations are trying shield the encroachers who are the vote banks.
Social Media Pulse: Recent landslides and accidents are viral.Gadgil’s voice clips are widely circulated
OnOur Reading List: Times of India, Indian Express, Mathrubhumi, Manorama ,Janmabhumi and so on
– Article by: G K Suresh Babu