Fear revisits residents of Western Ghats
The seventh draft declaring large swathes in the Western Ghats as eco-sensitive zones, based on the Kasturirangan report, was issued by the Union government on July 27, 2026, allowing 60 days to file objections. SATHISH G.T. examines the apprehensions it has rekindled and its decades-old history
On August 29, farmers marched from Karanagiri to Hosanagara town to protest the draft notification proposing to declare large parts of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area. This comes after decades of protests for the conservation of the Western Ghats. In 1987, scientists, ecologists, environmentalists, and activists from Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu began walking simultaneously, documenting the region's ecological condition.
In 2010, an expert panel was set up to assess the ecological status of the Western Ghats and recommend conservation measures. The panel's report advocated a people-oriented model of development and proposed a 37% ESA area, with Karnataka accounting for the largest share. However, the State governments and residents opposed the recommendations, citing severe disruptions to local livelihoods.
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