What happened: MoEF&CC keeps Western Ghats ESA finalisation in a continuing draft-and-review cycle
MoEF&CC continues Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification finalisation through multiple draft notifications and expert-panel review steps. State-wise positions remain part of the decision process, with Gujarat and Goa described as appearing aligned with finalising the ESA notification and Maharashtra described as seeking a fresh review.
MoEF&CC also continues Centre–state discussions that include the possibility of state-wise finalisation after clauses were included in a 2024 draft. Multiple draft notifications were issued between 2015 and 2026, and MoEF&CC extended an expert panel’s tenure after the last notification expired in July 2026.
Background and earlier position: WGEEP (2010) and the Kasturirangan-led reduction
WGEEP was constituted in 2010 and recommended declaring large taluka areas as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), then dividing them into Ecologically Sensitive Zones. Local opposition led to a Kasturirangan-led high-level working group, which reduced the proposed restriction scope to about 37% of the Western Ghats.
MoEF&CC then followed with draft notifications in 2014, and subsequent expert-panel review steps were triggered by unresolved concerns.
Related current affairs
- Western Ghats conservation with science and dialogue
- Western Ghats conservation: Centre reissues draft for eco-sensitive zone
- The Ecologically Sensitive Area debate highlights the need for balanced, inclusive conservation approaches (by Madhusudan Bandi)
- Western Ghats panel gets more years as deadlock continues over eco-sensitive area
- Centre declares 56,825 sq km of Western Ghats as eco-sensitive area
- Western Ghats panel gets one more year as deblock continues over eco-sensitive area