Context:

Recently, the Union government reissued a draft notification classifying parts of the Western Ghats as eco-sensitive areas (ESAs). 

More on the news:

• The notification follows severe landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, emphasising the region's vulnerability to ecological disasters 
• It is the sixth time in a decade that the union Government reissued the draft notification on the Western Ghats eco-sensitive areas (ESAs). 
• Despite six iterations, the draft notification has not become law as concerned states have objected to specific areas included in the ESA regions.
• Currently, the total ESA area across all states of Western Ghats is 56,825 sq km, distributed as follows: Kerala (9,993 sq km), Karnataka (20,668 sq km), Tamil Nadu (6,914 sq km), Maharashtra (17,340 sq km), Goa (1,461 sq km), and Gujarat (449 sq km).

Western Ghats

• The Western Ghats are a range of low mountains that stretch between 30 and 50 kilometers inland from Gujarat to southern Kerala, 1,600 kilometers parallel to India's western coast. 
• It extends over six States Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Biodiversity: 

• Forests of Western Ghats include best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests in world.
• At least 325 globally threatened (IUCN Red Data List) species are found in the Western Ghats.
• Though covering an area of 180,000km2, or just under 6 per cent of the land area of India, the Western Ghats contain more than 30 per cent of all plant, fish, herpeto-fauna, bird, and mammal species found in India.

Impact of the ESA Notification When Finalised:

• Mining and Quarrying Restrictions: A complete ban on mining, quarrying, and sand mining in the ESA. Existing mines must be phased out within five years.
• Thermal Power Projects: No new thermal power projects will be permitted. Expansion of existing thermal plants will not be allowed.
• Red Category Industries: New 'Red category' industries will be prohibited. A list of these industries will be compiled by the Central Pollution Control Board.
• Construction and Development Projects: New and expansion projects of building and construction with built-up areas of 20,000 square meters and above will be prohibited.
• Monitoring Mechanism: A separate monitoring mechanism will be established for economic activity in the region.

Previous Committees Recommendations:

• Gadgil Committee: It was established in 2011, and recommended that the entire Western Ghats, spanning 129,037 sq km, be designated as ecologically sensitive. It proposed creating three zones—ESA 1, ESA 2, and ESA 3—with the first two facing the strictest restrictions on economic activities. 
• Kasturirangan Committee: Notified only 37% (60,000 sq. km.)  of the Western Ghats as ESAs, categorising areas into cultural (human settlements) and natural (non-human settlements) zones. The committee also invited the States to draw up their own plans for ESAs, with Kerala becoming the first state to demarcate ESA.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs):

• ESAs are vital regions recognized for their environmental significance, where human activities are regulated to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. 
• The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 empowers the Central Government to restrict industrial activities in these sensitive areas, although "Eco-Sensitive Zones" is not explicitly mentioned.

Reasons for ESA Designation:

• Biodiversity Hotspot: The Western Ghats is one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making its protection crucial.
• Natural Disasters: Recent landslides have highlighted the need for protective measures to prevent further ecological degradation.

Opposition from States:

• The prevailing sentiment in Kerala is that the notification would impact agricultural plantations, hinder hydroelectric plans, and cause a migration crisis due to the state's high population density.
• The Kerala government previously appointed a panel to create an independent report against the Gadgil report.
• A committee was formed in 2022 to address states' concerns regarding the ESA. The committee is tasked with balancing conservation efforts with regional development needs. It is reviewing discrepancies and suggestions but has yet to submit its report.