Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed concerns regarding the implementation of the Gadgil Report in Pune district, particularly in ecologically sensitive talukas. While the Gadgil report was reviewed by the Kasturirangan committee, the Ministry has issued draft notifications for Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas, with the latest issued on July 31, 2024. A committee has been formed to address state government concerns, including those of Maharashtra, to finalize the draft notification.
Key Points / Main Content:
Western Ghats Ecology:
* The Ministry constituted the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (Gadgil Committee) to identify Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
* A High-Level Working Group (Kasturirangan Committee) reviewed the Gadgil Report.
Draft Notifications:
* A draft notification was issued on March 10, 2014, to notify Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
* The latest draft notification was issued on July 31, 2024, covering 56,825.7 sq. km across six states.
* The Ministry has received comments/objections/suggestions from stakeholders on the latest draft notification.
* These comments have been forwarded to the respective State Governments for their input.
Conservation Efforts:
* 2,795.64 sq. km in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra has been brought under protection as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and Ecosensitive Zones.
Committee for State Concerns:
* A committee has been formed to examine the suggestions of the six states.
* The committee will consider conservation aspects, rights, needs, and developmental aspirations of the region.
* The committee will deliberate with the respective State Governments to finalize the draft notification.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments (including Maharashtra):
* Impact: Required to provide comments/suggestions on the draft notification of Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas. Their concerns/suggestions are being deliberated by a committee.
* Action Required: Review the draft notification, provide comments/suggestions to the Ministry, and engage in deliberations with the committee.
Stakeholders (including residents and organizations in the Western Ghats region):
* Impact: Potentially affected by the regulations and restrictions imposed by the notification of Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
* Action Required: Submit comments/objections/suggestions on the draft notification to the Ministry through the respective State Governments.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Responsible for finalizing and implementing the notification of Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
* Action Required: Consider comments/suggestions from State Governments and stakeholders, deliberate with the committee, and finalize the draft notification.
Key Entities Referenced
Gadgil Report: Report on Western Ghats ecology by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel headed by Prof. Madhav Gadgil.
Pune district: A district in the state of Maharashtra, India, mentioned in the context of implementing the Gadgil Report.
Junnar, Ambegaon and Maval: Ecologically sensitive Talukas (sub-divisions of a district) within Pune district, Maharashtra.
Western Ghats: A mountain range in India that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula.
Maharashtra: A state in India, part of the Western Ghats region.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection.
Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel: A panel constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, headed by Prof. Madhav Gadgil, for the identification of Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
Dr. K. Kasturirangan: Head of the High-Level Working Group constituted to review the Gadgil Report.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2522
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2025
Implementation of Gadgil Report in Pune
2522. DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any steps to implement the recommendations of
the Gadgil Report in Pune district, particularly in the ecologically sensitive Talukas
of Junnar, Ambegaon and Maval;
(b) if so, the details of specific actions taken to preserve biodiversity and protect wildlife
species such as leopards and giant squirrels (Shekaru) in the Western Ghats region of
Maharashtra;
(c) whether the Government has conducted or commissioned any environmental impact
assessments or studies related to ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects in these
areas;
(d) whether any measures have been adopted to ensure sustainable development while
conserving the ecological balance in these Talukas and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons for the delay or inaction in implementing the Gadgil Report's
recommendations in Pune district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had
constituted a Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel headed by Prof. Madhav Gadgil
for the identification of Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas. After the
submission of Gadgil report another committee i.e. High-Level Working Group headed
by Dr. K. Kasturirangan had been constituted to review this report in a holistic manner.
Subsequently, for the conservation and protection of the Western Ghats, the Ministry
issued a draft notification on 10.03.2014, to notify Western Ghats Ecologically
Sensitive Areas. Due to non-finalisation of preceding draft notifications, the Ministry
has notified the latest draft notification vide S.O. 3060(E) dated 31.07.2024, covering
an area of 56,825.7 square kilometers spreading across six States i.e. Gujarat, Goa,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The Ministry has received
comments/objections/suggestions on this draft notification from various stakeholders
and the same have been forwarded to the respective State Governments for providing
comments/suggestions on the matter.To protect the biodiversity including wildlife species in the Western Ghats
region of Maharashtra, an area of 2,795.64 sq. km has been brought under protection
through National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Eco-sensitive Zones. In order to
address the issues raised by the respective State Governments on draft notification of
Western Ghats Ecologically sensitive Areas, the Ministry has constituted a Committee
to examine the suggestions of the six States in a holistic manner, keeping in view the
conservation aspects of the ecosystem, and the rights, privileges, needs and
developmental aspirations of the region. The concerns/suggestions of the State
Governments, including Maharashtra are being deliberated by the Committee with the
respective State Governments on merits for finalization of the draft notification.
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