Karnataka’s Rejection of Eco-Sensitive Area Notification for Western Ghats
Karnataka’s Rejection of Eco-Sensitive Area Notification for Western Ghats
Sub : Env
Sec: Environmental legislation
Why in News
On September 26, 2023, the Karnataka government formally requested the withdrawal of a draft notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which aimed to designate parts of the Western Ghats as Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESAs). This development follows the government’s rejection of the Kasturirangan committee report regarding environmental management in the region.
Key points from Kasturirangan committee report
The Kasturirangan committee report proposes 37 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats, which is roughly 60,000 square kilometres, to be declared as eco-sensitive area (ESA).
The state of Karnataka has the highest percentage of the ESA- 46.50 per cent.
The report recommended a blanket ban on mining, quarrying, setting up of red category industries and thermal power projects.
It also stated that the impact of infrastructural projects on the forest and wildlife should be studied before permission is given for these activities.
It also stated that the UNESCO Heritage tag is an opportunity to build global and domestic recognition of the enormous natural wealth that exists in the Western Ghats.
The39 sites are located across the Western Ghats and distributed across the states (Kerala 19), Karnataka (10), Tamil Nadu (6) and Maharashtra (4).
What is an Eco-Sensitive Zone:
The basic aim of ESZ is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas
ESZs are notified by MoEFCC, Government of India under Environment Protection Act 1986
The guidelines include a broad list of activities that could be allowed, promoted, regulated or promoted. This is an important checklist for conservationists to keep in mind while identifying threats in ESZs.
For this purpose, the ministry has asked all states to constitute a committee comprising the wildlife warden, an ecologist and a revenue department official of the area concerned to suggest the requirement of an eco-sensitive zone and its extent.
The width of the ESZ and type of regulation may vary from protected area to area. However, as a general principle, the width of the ESZ could go up to 10 kms around the protected area.
About Western Ghats:
Mountain chain running parallel to India’s western coast, extending from the Satpura Range to Kanyakumari.Approximately 1,600 km, covering an area of around 140,000 km².
Divided into northern Maharashtra (Sahyadri), Konkan Coast, Kanara, Malabar Coast, and Nilgiri Malai in Tamil Nadu.
Formation: Considered either block mountains due to land down-warping or faulted edges of the Deccan Plateau.
Key role in intercepting southwest monsoon winds, significantly influencing Indian weather patterns.
Hotspot Status: Recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biodiversity.
Flora and Fauna: Home to over 1,500 endemic species, including 325 globally threatened species (IUCN Red List).
Forests: Tropical evergreen forests on western slopes and deciduous forests on eastern slopes.Includes Rosewood, Mahogany, Teak, and Sandalwood.
Endemic Species: Features unique species like Nilgiritahr and lion-tailed macaque.
Major Rivers
West-Flowing Rivers: Includes Periyar, Netravati, and Mandovi; essential for hydroelectricity due to steep gradients.
East-Flowing Rivers: Includes Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri; slower-moving rivers contributing to larger water bodies.
Home to India’s two biosphere reserves(Agasthya Mala BR and Nilgiris BR) and 13 national parks.
Hill Stations: Known for popular hill stations like Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala, and Kodagu, attracting tourism and contributing to local economies.