Karnataka to reject Centre’s fresh draft notification on Eco-Sensitive Area in Western Ghats
The Karnataka government has announced its intention to reject the Centre's latest draft notification regarding Eco-Sensitive Areas in the Western Ghats. State officials argue the proposal threatens the livelihoods of farmers and residents across 1,449 villages.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between federal environmental conservation efforts and state-level economic and agricultural interests.
The Karnataka government on Thursday told the Legislative Assembly that it would reject the latest draft notification issued by the Centre proposing the Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) that would cover a 20,668 square kilometre area spread across 1,449 villages in the State.
Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced the decision to reject the latest draft issued on July 27, 2026, after members cutting across party affiliations in the Assembly described it as “a death knell” for farmers and people of the Western Ghats.
The Minister explained to the House that the high-level committee led by scientist K. Kasthurirangan, which had been constituted by the Centre to recommend measures to protect the Ecologically Sensitive Western Ghats, had submitted its report in 2013. In the report, it was recommended that 56,000 square km of area spread across six States, including 20,668 square km of Karnataka, be declared as ESA.
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