Western Ghats ESA Deadline: Fight for Fragile Ecosystem

Environmentalists are urgently campaigning to safeguard the proposed 56,825.7 sqkm Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the Western Ghats, as the September 25 deadline for objections looms. They argue that continued development and ecosystem fragmentation are directly linked to increased landslides, human-animal conflicts, and loss of life and property in the region. Habitat conservationist Umakant Chavan highlighted the dangers, noting 122 landslide-prone locations in the Kolhapur district alone due to unchecked development and deforestation.

The Western Ghats, spanning six states, are central to a protracted debate over the extent of ESA. Conservation groups are pushing to maintain the proposed area, resisting demands from states for exclusions to facilitate development. Maharashtra has proposed removing 388 villages from the ESA, and other states like Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have also sought to limit the protected zone, prioritizing development interests. These states argue that the ESA should be restricted to forested areas or exclude villages with significant human populations.

The current debate follows earlier recommendations, including the 2011 Madhav Gadgil Committee's proposal for a 1.29 lakh sqkm ESA, which was later reduced by the K Kasturirangan Committee. Environmentalists like Madhukar Bachulkar emphasize the Western Ghats' crucial role as a global biodiversity hotspot, essential for rainfall patterns and supporting agriculture and hydropower. The recent deadly landslides in Wayanad serve as a stark reminder of the ecological consequences of degradation. Meanwhile, areas like Dodamarg remain contentious, with ongoing legal efforts to include them in the ESA due to their rich biodiversity.