• An ESA is a zone declared by the government around protected areas, national parks, sanctuaries, or ecologically fragile regions to regulate harmful activities and reduce development pressure.
• It acts as a shock absorber or buffer zone, reducing direct human-activity pressure on core ecological areas.
• ESAs typically restrict or regulate mining, quarrying, polluting industries and large-scale construction, while allowing regulated, sustainable activities.
• The Western Ghats, one of the world’s most important biodiversity hotspots, has been at the centre of ESA discussions for over a decade.

• A mountain range parallel to India’s western coast, spread across six States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• Recognised as one of the world’s eight biodiversity hotspots and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Plays a critical role in influencing the Indian monsoon, protecting endemic flora and fauna, and supporting millions of livelihoods.
• Its ecological richness alongside dense human settlements and farmlands makes it a classic case of balancing conservation with development.

Madhav Gadgil Committee (WGEEP, 2011)

• Submitted its report on 31 August 2011, recommending the entire Western Ghats region be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
• Classified the region into three zones — ESZ-1, ESZ-2 and ESZ-3 — by degree of ecological sensitivity.
• Almost all major developmental activities such as mining and thermal power plants would have been restricted, especially in ESZ-1.

Kasturirangan Committee (High-Level Working Group, 2012)

• Set up since no State was willing to accept the Gadgil Report in its original form; examined it in a more holistic, multidisciplinary manner.
• Recommended only about 37% of the Western Ghats (~60,000 sq. km) be declared as ESA — a significant reduction from Gadgil’s proposal.
• Recommended a complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining within the ESA, plus restrictions on thermal power plants and large townships.

• The Centre’s draft notification proposed around 9,993.7 sq. km of ESA in Kerala; the State now seeks a reduction to 8,590.69 sq. km, covering 98 villages instead of 123.
• Kerala wants populated areas, farmlands and plantations excluded from the ESA.
• It argues that its small geographical area, high population density and significant forest cover make its situation unique, requiring a different demarcation approach.
• The State is concerned that additional ESA restrictions could affect agriculture, development and local livelihoods, since several environmental laws already regulate forests, wetlands and paddy fields.
• Despite several draft proposals since 2014, the Western Ghats ESA notification remains pending, with no final notification issued so far.

• The Centre’s 2024 decision to notify ESAs State-wise has allowed individual States to negotiate their own boundaries instead of following a single uniform notification.
• Gujarat is reportedly close to an agreement; Tamil Nadu has no major disagreement with its proposed ESA.
• Maharashtra and Goa have sought exclusion of 378 and 21 villages respectively from their proposed ESA areas.
• Karnataka has taken a stronger position — its Assembly unanimously rejected the Kasturirangan framework, citing outdated 2012 satellite data and possible impact on farmers and livelihoods.

Way Forward