Fear revisits residents of Western Ghats

The Union government’s seventh draft notification, released on 27 July 2026, re‑classifies large tracts of the Western Ghats as eco‑sensitive zones (ESZs) following the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee. The draft, which grants a 60‑day window for objections, has reignited a long‑standing debate that pits conservation imperatives against the livelihoods and development aspirations of the region’s millions of residents. While the move is framed as a step toward safeguarding the biodiversity hotspot that stretches across six states, it also revives concerns that date back to the early 1990s when the first proposals to delimit ESZs were tabled.The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, harbours more than 7,000 plant species, 1,500 bird species and a host of endemic mammals, many of which are classified as endangered..

Proponents of the draft argue that the latest delineation, which expands the buffer zone from the earlier 500‑metre limit to an average of 1,000 metres, is essential to curb unchecked mining, quarrying and unplanned construction that have accelerated in recent years. They point to the 2022 loss of over 1,200 hectares of forest cover to illegal logging and to the proliferation of hydro‑electric projects that have fragmented river ecosystems, threatening both flora and the water security of downstream communities.Opposition, however, is being voiced with renewed vigor by farmers, small‑scale entrepreneurs and local governing bodies in Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Their objections centre on the potential curtailment of agricultural expansion, restrictions on horticultural activities such as spice cultivation, and the impact on tourism‑related enterprises that rely on the very landscapes the ESZ seeks to protect..

In districts such as Chikmagalur and Wayanad, where coffee, cardamom and tea plantations dominate the economy, residents fear that the expanded ESZ could lead to a freeze on new land‑use permits, jeopardising income and prompting migration.The Kasturirangan Committee, set up in 2019, was tasked with reviewing the earlier 2008 ESZ framework and suggesting modifications to reconcile ecological and developmental objectives. Its report, submitted in early 2025, recommended a tiered approach: core zones with strict protection, peripheral zones with regulated activities, and a gradient of permissible interventions based on ecological sensitivity indices. Critics argue that the seventh draft departs from this nuanced model, opting instead for a blanket expansion that blurs the distinctions and imposes a one‑size‑fits‑all restriction..

Legal scholars note that the draft’s language mirrors that of the 2008 notification, yet the scientific basis for the new boundaries appears to rely heavily on satellite‑derived forest cover data, which may not capture on‑ground realities such as agro‑forestry and traditional fallow systems.Historically, the ESZ debate has oscillated between court‑ordered directives and political negotiations. In 2011, the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict in the “Western Ghats Conservation” case affirmed the need for a comprehensive ESZ but left the exact demarcation to the central government. Subsequent governments have issued multiple drafts, each met with protests, petitions and, at times, legal challenges that have delayed implementation for years..

The current draft arrives amid a broader national discourse on climate resilience, with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change positioning the move as part of India’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its own net‑zero targets for 2070.Local environmental NGOs, such as the Western Ghats Conservation Society (WGCS) and the Centre for Ecological Studies, have welcomed the expanded protection but urged the government to incorporate community‑based management plans. They argue that indigenous knowledge and participatory monitoring can enhance conservation outcomes while mitigating livelihood disruptions. WGCS’s director, Dr Ananya Rao, emphasized that “top‑down design without ground‑level consultation risks alienating the very people who have been custodians of these landscapes for generations.” The NGOs have submitted a detailed memorandum within the objection window, proposing a revised zonal map that reduces the buffer in high‑density agricultural blocks while strengthening protection around critical wildlife corridors.The commercial sector, particularly the mining and infrastructure industries, has lodged formal objections through industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)..

Their submissions claim that the expanded ESZ will stifle investment, increase project costs and delay essential infrastructure, including roads and rail links that are deemed vital for regional connectivity and economic growth. In a statement, the CII highlighted the potential loss of over 1.3 billion rupees in projected revenue from mining licences that would fall within the new boundaries, urging the government to consider a phased implementation that aligns with existing contractual obligations.State governments have responded with a mix of caution and conditional support. Karnataka’s Environment Minister, S Mohan Kumar, announced that the state will form a joint technical committee to scrutinise the draft’s impact on its 13 million‑strong population residing in the Ghats..

Kerala’s Chief Minister, P K Jayarajan, echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need to balance ecological preservation with the state’s ambition to expand its horticulture export market, which already contributes significantly to the national economy. Both states have indicated readiness to file objections if the draft is perceived to undermine planned development projects that have received prior clearances.The public hearing period, slated to conclude on 26 September 2026, is expected to see a flurry of petitions, expert testimonies and possibly legal interventions. Analysts predict that the final notification could be delayed further, as past drafts have often undergone multiple revisions after stakeholder feedback..

The Ministry has promised to publish a consolidated response to objections, yet the transparency of this process remains under scrutiny. Civil society groups are calling for an independent scientific review panel, arguing that reliance on remote sensing alone may not capture the complex socio‑ecological fabric of the Ghats.As the deadline approaches, the Western Ghats stands at a crossroads where ecological urgency collides with human aspirations. The outcome of the objection process will not only shape the future of one of the world’s most biodiverse mountain ranges but also set a precedent for how India navigates the delicate equilibrium between environmental stewardship and developmental imperatives..

Whether the final policy will achieve that balance remains to be seen, but the intensity of the current debate underscores the stakes involved for both nature and the communities that depend on it..