Saving the Western Ghats | In Focus Podcast
The Western Ghats, a critical biodiversity hotspot, faces ongoing tension between ecological conservation efforts and local development interests. The Karnataka government continues to oppose the Centre's draft notification for Eco-Sensitive Areas, citing concerns over the Kasturirangan report.
Why it matters
Balancing environmental protection with local economic needs is a major policy challenge in India's ecologically sensitive regions.
The Western Ghats in India is a mountain range that is considered next only to the Himalayas in terms of being a biological treasure trove with a high degree of endemism and scenic beauty. It has also been declared as one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity. However, in recent times, it has been in the news for threats to its unique ecosystem, especially with every episode of an ecological disaster.
Yet, every attempt that has proposed to address these problems - be it the Gadgil committee report or the Kasturirangan report - has met with opposition. The latest in this list is the 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 Karnataka, which has been vehemently opposed by the Karnataka government.
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