Kasturirangan Committee on Western Ghats

Subject – Environment

Context – Karnataka Chief Minister informed the Centre that the state is opposed to the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghats.

Concept –

Recommendations of the 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.
- The 39 sites are located across the Western Ghats and distributed across the states (Kerala 19), Karnataka (10), Tamil Nadu (6) and Maharashtra (4).