The Western Ghats is spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
| Photo Credit: H. Vibhu
The Union Environment Ministry has reissued, for the seventh time in over a decade, its draft notification proposing an ecologically sensitive area (ESA) across the Western Ghats, after the previous draft lapsed on July 27 without being finalised.
The latest draft, issued on July 27, 2026, will remain open for public objections for 60 days before the Centre considers issuing a final notification. The notification reiterates that once finalised, it would prohibit mining, quarrying, sand mining, new thermal power plants, certain industries and large construction projects within the ESA, while regulating activities such as hydel power generation.
The fresh notification underscores the Centre’s inability to resolve long-standing differences with the six Western Ghats States — Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu — over the precise villages and regions that should be included within the eco-sensitive zone. The States had raised concerns over the impact of the ESA declaration on agriculture, plantations, infrastructure, and development.
The notification itself notes that an expert committee constituted in 2022 is continuing to examine objections from the States regarding “the correct names and area of villages to be included in the ecologically sensitive area” as well as other suggestions submitted by the State governments.
The latest notification retains the proposed ESA at 56,825.7 sq. km, spread across the six States, with Karnataka accounting for 20,668 sq. km, Maharashtra 17,340 sq. km, Kerala 9,993.7 sq. km, Tamil Nadu 6,914 sq. km, Goa 1,461 sq. km and Gujarat 449 sq. km.
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No changes
A comparison of the latest draft with the previous notification issued in July 2024 shows no substantive changes in the notified area, State-wise extent or regulatory provisions. The list of villages proposed for inclusion also remains unchanged in places highlighted during earlier consultations. For instance, the 13 villages in Kerala’s Wayanad district across Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery and Vythiri taluks that figured in the previous draft continue to be included in the 2026 notification.
A panel chaired by ecologist Madhav Gadgil had recommended that the entire 1,29,000 sq. km mountain chain be treated as ecologically sensitive.
| Photo Credit:
H. Vibhu
The dispute over protecting the Western Ghats dates back to 2011, when a panel chaired by late ecologist Madhav Gadgil recommended that the entire 1,29,000 sq. km mountain chain be treated as ecologically sensitive, with graded levels of protection. Following objections from the States, a high-level working group chaired by K. Kasturirangan reviewed the proposal and recommended that about 37% of the Western Ghats, covering 59,940 sq. km of natural landscape, be designated an ESA. The notification records that Kerala subsequently carried out its own field verification exercise, reducing the proposed ESA within the State from 13,108 sq. km recommended by the high-level working group to 9,993.7 sq. km.
Successive draft notifications since 2014 have sought to reconcile conservation objectives with the concerns raised by the States.
Published – July 28, 2026 10:19 pm IST
