What happened: ESA notification for 56,825 sq km in the Western Ghats
The Union government has notified a large portion of the Western Ghats—covering 56,825 square kilometres—as an eco-sensitive area (ESA).
The notification is meant for environmental protection and for regulating activities within the designated zone. The Union government is expected to issue specific restrictions and conditions for development inside the ESA and enable monitoring of ecological impact in the region.
Background and earlier position: ESAs as a regulatory tool around ecologically sensitive landscapes
An eco-sensitive area is a notified regulatory zone used in Indian environmental governance to reduce ecological harm by controlling activities and setting conditions for development near ecologically sensitive regions.
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