**Policy Summary: Draft Notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in the Western Ghats**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, published a draft notification S.O. 3060(E) on July 31, 2024, proposing the declaration of 56,825 square kilometers across six states (Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu) within the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs). This initiative aims to protect the region's rich biodiversity.
The notification has raised concerns among the involved states, particularly Kerala, regarding potential impacts on agricultural plantations, hydroelectricity projects, and population displacement due to the state's high population density. Kerala submitted a revised proposal on November 2, 2024, requesting the declaration of 8590.69 square kilometers across 98 villages in 29 talukas and 12 districts as ESA.
The MoEFCC has received comments, objections, and suggestions from various stakeholders, which have been forwarded to the respective State Governments for their input. To address the concerns raised by the State Governments, the Ministry has formed a committee to comprehensively review the suggestions from all six states. This committee's mandate includes considering both the ecological conservation aspects and the rights, privileges, needs, and developmental aspirations of the region. The committee is actively deliberating the concerns and suggestions of the State Governments, including Kerala, on their merits to finalize the draft notification. A definitive timeline for completing the consultation process and releasing the final notification has not been fixed.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE: A ministry of the Government of India, responsible for environmental and forestry matters.
DR. SHASHI THAROOR: The individual posing the question in the Lok Sabha regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, providing the answer to the question.
Western Ghats: A major mountain range in India, known for its biodiversity and ecologically sensitive areas.
Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs): Areas within the Western Ghats that are designated for protection due to their ecological significance.
Kerala: A state in India that has raised concerns regarding the notification's potential impact on its agricultural plantations, hydro electricity plans and high population density.
Goa: One of the six states across which the 56,825 square kilometer area of the Western Ghats extends.
Gujarat: One of the six states across which the 56,825 square kilometer area of the Western Ghats extends.
Karnataka: One of the six states across which the 56,825 square kilometer area of the Western Ghats extends.
Maharashtra: One of the six states across which the 56,825 square kilometer area of the Western Ghats extends.
Tamil Nadu: One of the six states across which the 56,825 square kilometer area of the Western Ghats extends.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1197
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas
1197. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the current status of the draft notification classifying parts of the Western Ghats in six
States as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs);
(b) the steps taken by the Government to address the concerns of the States, especially of
Kerala, that this notification would subsume agricultural plantations, curtail the
State’s hydro- electricity plans and lead to a migration crisis given the State’s high
population density;
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to get the States to arrive at a consensus;
(d) whether the Government has fixed a timeline to complete the consulting process and
release and implement the final notification; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) In order to protect the rich biodiversity of Western Ghats region, the Ministry
Environment, Forest and Climate Change has published the draft notification on Ecologically
Sensitive Area of Western Ghats, vide S.O. 3060(E) dated 31.07.2024 with an area of 56,825
square kilometer spread across six States namely, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala,
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
The Government of Kerala has submitted the revised proposal on 02.11.2024, requesting for
declaring 8590.69 square kilometer area in 98 villages spread across 29 talukas in 12 districts
as Ecologically Sensitive Area, based on the verification of the suggestions received from the
Local Self Government Department.
Moreover, Ministry has also received comments/objections/suggestions on this draft
notification from various stakeholders and the same have been forwarded to the State
Government for providing comments/suggestions on the matter.
In order to address the issues raised by the respective State Governments, 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 Kerala are deliberated by the Committee with the respective State
Governments on merit for finalization of the draft notification.
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