Now Reading: Seventh Western Ghats eco-sensitive zone draft faces state resistance
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Seventh Western Ghats eco-sensitive zone draft faces state resistance
The Union Environment Ministry issued the seventh draft notification on July 27, defining Ecologically Sensitive Areas across 56,825 sq km in the Western Ghats, reports Mongabay India. The notification restricts mining, large…
The Story in Brief
The Union Environment Ministry issued the seventh draft notification on July 27, defining Ecologically Sensitive Areas across 56,825 sq km in the Western Ghats, reports Mongabay India. The notification restricts mining, large construction, and industry. States including Kerala, Karnataka, and Goa have resisted, citing harm to agriculture, tourism, and real estate. The expert committee’s deadline has been extended to 2027. The process has been ongoing since the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports in the early 2010s.
The Indian Opinion
The loudest narratives pit conservation against livelihoods, but both sides exaggerate. The Gadgil report was never implemented, and the Kasturirangan one cut the area to 37%, yet states still resist. The real fear is not the ban itself but the lack of ground verification and the threat of eviction. Will the centre adopt a phased rollout, and can satellite imagery be supplemented with physical visits to end the deadlock?
Sources (2): thehindu.com, india.mongabay.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
