MADHAV
GADGIL REPORT ON WESTERN GHATS – ENVIRONMENT
News: Raigad landslide brings back focus
on Madhav Gadgil report on Western Ghats
What's
in the news?
● A
devastating landslide in Maharashtra’s Raigad district recently resulted in the
loss of 27 lives and the destruction of an entire village.
● This
tragic incident has reignited discussions about the 2011 Dr Madhav Gadgil
report on the conservation of the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.
Madhav
Gadgil Report:
● In
2010, the Western Ghats Ecology
Expert Panel (WGEEP), chaired by ecologist Dr Madhav Gadgil, was appointed by
Union Environment Ministry.
Major
Recommendations:
1.
ESZs:
● The
report proposed classifying 64 percent of the Western Ghats, spanning six
states, into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) – ESZ 1, ESZ 2, and ESZ 3, and designating the entire region as an
Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
2.
Ban on Developmental activities:
● The
report recommended stopping almost all developmental activities, including
mining, construction of thermal power plants, and dams, in ESZ 1.
● It
also called for the phasing out of mining in ESZ 1 in Goa, banning new
polluting industries in ESZ 1 and ESZ 2 in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri and
Sindhudurg districts, and implementing zero pollution norms for existing
industries.
3.
Sustainable Farming:
● The
report advocated a ban on growing single
commercial crops, such as tea, coffee, cardamom, rubber, banana, and
pineapple, to promote sustainable farming practices in the Western Ghats.
4.
Western Ghats Ecology Authority:
● It
recommended decentralization and granting more powers to local authorities in
the governance of the environment.
● The
establishment of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority was proposed to manage the region’s ecology and ensure
sustainable development.
5.
Certain prohibitions:
● The
report urged the prohibition of genetically modified crops, plastic bags,
Special Economic Zones, and new hill stations, along with the protection of
river ecosystems and public lands.
Challenges
in Implementation:
1.
Stakeholder Resistance:
● The
recommendations faced opposition from stakeholder states, fearing negative
impacts on development and livelihoods.
2.
Formation of Kasturirangan Panel:
● In
response to the resistance, a High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats, led by
Dr K Kasturirangan, was constituted.
● This
panel’s report, released in 2014, designated
only 37 percent of the region as ecologically sensitive, significantly less
than Gadgil’s proposal.
3.
Revision and Splitting of ESZ:
● The
Kasturirangan report divided the Western Ghats into cultural (human
settlements) and natural (non-human settlements) regions.
● It
suggested designating cultural lands as ESAs and introduced red, orange, and
green categories for activities based on regulation levels.
Controversy
and Criticism:
● Dr
Madhav Gadgil criticized the Kasturirangan report, stating that it distorted
and perverted the essence of his panel’s original recommendations.
● He
highlighted the importance of including
local communities in economic decisions and the need for a more pro-nature
approach.
Current
Status:
● By
2022, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
announced the formation of a
high-powered committee to conduct physical landscaping and submit a detailed
report within a year.
The Raigad landslide tragedy and the discussions about
the Dr Madhav Gadgil report underscore the significance of preserving the
ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. The
delicate balance between conservation efforts and developmental requirements
remains a complex issue. It is essential for stakeholders, governments, and
experts to collaborate and find sustainable solutions to protect this vital
ecosystem and its biodiversity for future generations.