The landslides in Wayanad have reignited urgent discussions surrounding the long-delayed finalisation of the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) framework for the Western Ghats. Since 2011, attempts to reach a consensus among the six affected states have been ongoing, yet progress has been slow. The Centre’s third committee, tasked with resolving this intricate issue, is reportedly in the final stages of deliberation and is anticipated to produce a comprehensive framework by next month.
The five-member committee, led by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar, is focusing on three key principles to guide its recommendations. First, the ESA framework must be acceptable to all involved states and stakeholders. Second, it is imperative to minimise habitat fragmentation. Third, the framework should be inherently connected to vital ecosystem services—spanning from coastal fisheries to microclimate and water conservation, alongside robust biodiversity protection. This committee aims to adopt a different approach compared to previous recommendations from the Gadgil and Kasturirangan committees, which faced substantial pushback from stakeholder states. The new framework will not only emphasise biodiversity conservation but also strive to create a constructive and predictive mechanism, utilising a more supportive language to foster trust among local communities.
Moreover, any requests for exclusions from the ESA will be subjected to thorough examination, ensuring that justifiable grounds are presented. The ultimate determination will consider whether to maintain the proposed 59,000 square kilometres suggested in the 2022 draft notification or to make adjustments. Achieving consensus among the states remains the principal challenge. Since the Gadgil committee’s original recommendation to declare 129,037 square kilometres as ecologically sensitive, a lack of agreement has persisted. A parliamentary committee report from December 2022 underscored the environment ministry’s relentless efforts to harmonise views among state governments, public representatives, and local communities, despite ongoing apprehensions.
An expert involved in these discussions, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed discontent regarding the slow pace of progress. “At the ground level, public resistance is significant, primarily due to a lack of awareness and the absence of alternative employment opportunities. Political will is also lacking at both central and state levels, creating a ‘chalta hai’ attitude. If there were more proactive measures taken to sensitise communities and identify solutions, we would have made more headway,” the expert remarked. As the committee works towards finalising the framework, it is crucial to maintain a balanced approach that reconciles environmental conservation with the practical needs of the affected communities. By integrating local perspectives and ecological priorities, the ESA framework can become a model for sustainable development in the region.
