Western Ghats
Kolhapur : As the Sept 25 deadline for filing objections and suggestions on Centre’s seventh draft notification for Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in Western Ghats fast approaches, environmentalists have intensified efforts to retain the proposed 56,825.7sqkm protected zone, warning that any further dilution could have serious ecological consequences. There are 122 landslide-prone locations in Western Ghats stretch passing through Kolhapur district alone,” Chavan, who has spent a few days each month in the jungle over the past 15 years, said. Citing Amba Ghat in Kolhapur district, he said, “The number of resorts has increased from just three or four to 57 over the years, contributing to repeated landslides and economic losses. Environmental groups are campaigning to ensure that the proposed 56,825.7sqkm area remains intact despite demands from several states for exclusions to accommodate development projects. Maharashtra has sought the exclusion of 388 villages from ESA. The draft proposes ESA coverage for 108 villages spanning 1,461sqkm in Goa. Karnataka has objected to the inclusion of around 53 villages with significant human habitation, although it maintains its opposition to polluting industries. The debate dates back to 2011, when Madhav Gadgil Committee recommended declaring nearly 1.29 lakh sqkm of Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive. Following opposition from states, Centre appointed K Kasturirangan Committee, which proposed a reduced ESA of 59,940sqkm. The area was subsequently trimmed to 56,825.7sqkm after Kerala secured the exclusion of around 3,000sqkm. Of Maharashtra’s 2,515 villages proposed under ESA, 212 are in Kolhapur district alone. It also proposes restrictions on large-scale construction projects, including constructions with a built-up area of 20,000sqm, townships spanning 50 hectares, and projects with a built-up area of 1.5 lakh sqm. With 120 small and large dams already across the Ghats, safeguarding what remains is vital for future generations,” he said. Referring to the deadly 2024 Wayanad landslides, Bachulkar argued that ecological degradation had already demonstrated its costs. In 2024, following a petition by environmental NGO Vanashakti, Bombay high court directed Centre to include 13 villages from the region in ESA.
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In Goa, CM Pramod Sawant recently said misconceptions were being spread about the notification and urged stakeholders to submit objections instead of creating confusion. Environmental protection is important, but livelihoods must also be safeguarded,” Abitkar said, adding that he had similarly sought exclusions from a proposed tiger corridor. The draft notification proposes a ban on mining, quarrying, thermal power plants, and industries classified as “red category” by Central Pollution Control Board. We will demand that the entire tehsil be brought under ESA protection,” said Stalin D, director of Vanashakti.
Habitat conservationist and adventurer Umakant Chavan linked the increasing frequency of landslides, human-animal conflicts and loss of lives and property in Western Ghats to unchecked development and ecosystem fragmentation. “Had roads not been built through fragile landscapes and the ecosystem not been fragmented, the situation would have been different. He blamed deforestation and unregulated tourism infrastructure for accelerating environmental degradation. Western Ghats, spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra , Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, have been at the centre of a prolonged battle between conservationists and state govts over the extent of ESA. Kerala and Tamil Nadu have similarly argued that ESA should be limited largely to forested areas. State health minister and Radhanagari MLA Prakash Abitkar recently met senior officials in Union environment ministry, seeking the removal of villages in Kolhapur district from draft ESA list. “If villages are tagged as ESA, development activities needed by local residents, most of whom are farmers, will be adversely affected. Environmentalist Madhukar Bachulkar, instrumental in securing Unesco World Heritage status for Satara’s Kas Plateau and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, underscored Western Ghats’ ecological importance. “The range, older than the Himalayas, is a global biodiversity hotspot that shelters rare and endemic species, shapes rainfall patterns, and supports agriculture and hydropower. Dodamarg remains flashpoint One of the most contentious areas remains Dodamarg tehsil in Sindhudurg district, located along the Maharashtra-Goa-Karnataka border. Despite its rich biodiversity, it has remained outside ESA proposal since the beginning. “Dodamarg is among the richest ecological landscapes in the Western Ghats. It has dense forests, habitats for tigers, elephants and other wildlife, river origins and ancient swamps. Download the TOI App.