The Union government’s seventh draft notification to declare 56,825.7 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) has renewed debate over environmental protection land use and local livelihoods.
Issued on July 27, 2026, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 the draft proposes restrictions on mining quarrying, sand mining, new thermal power projects, red category industries and certain large construction and township projects. However, it does not mandate the acquisition of private land, eviction of residents or a blanket ban on farming.
Despite six earlier attempts to finalise the notification, disagreements between the Centre and state governments continue to delay the process. The 60 day period for filing objections has ended and the expert committee examining the submissions has received an extension until July 2027.
Karnataka’s legislature unanimously rejected the draft in its present form on September 22, seeking time for physical surveys and a review of the proposed boundaries. Kerala has asked the Centre to reduce its proposed ESA area by excluding inhabited areas, agricultural land and plantations. Maharashtra and Goa have also sought changes, while Tamil Nadu has raised concerns about boundaries and local land use.
The draft’s restrictions primarily target activities considered environmentally damaging. New mining quarrying and sand mining would be prohibited, while existing mines would have to close within five years of the final notification or when their leases expire whichever comes first. New thermal power projects and red category industries would also be prohibited.
Specified construction projects with a built up area of 20,000 square metres or more along with townships meeting prescribed area thresholds would face restrictions. Existing residential buildings could still be repaired and renovated. Hydropower projects would not be categorically prohibited but would be subject to environmental assessments and conditions, including maintaining minimum uninterrupted river flow during the lean season.
Karnataka has argued that satellite-based mapping may not adequately distinguish forests from plantations, agricultural holdings, homes and public infrastructure. It has also raised questions about land grants, deemed forests and pending claims under the Forest Rights Act. Kerala has proposed reducing its ESA area from 9,993.7 square kilometres to 8,590.69 square kilometres.
Environmental concerns have intensified amid arguments that the designation could affect land values and farmers’ livelihoods. Alex Ozhukayil chairman of the Kerala Independent Farmers Association, said restrictions could reduce property values, noting that land represents a farmer’s wealth.
However, environmental advocates argue that protecting the Western Ghats does not mean displacing residents or prohibiting traditional agriculture. They distinguish between small scale farming on private land and commercial activities such as quarrying and large construction projects that can increase pressure on fragile mountain ecosystems.
N Badusha president of the Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Samithy said the purpose of the designation was to improve public safety rather than evict people.
The devastating Mundakkai Chooralmala landslides in Wayanad in July 2024, which killed hundreds of people and destroyed settlements highlighted the risks associated with living in vulnerable mountain landscapes. Although an ESA notification alone could not have prevented the disaster, the tragedy underscored the importance of considering slope stability, drainage, rainfall patterns and land use practices.
The Western Ghats are vital to India’s river systems, water supplies, agriculture and biodiversity. Their forests and watersheds help regulate water flows, while wildlife corridors connect habitats across state boundaries. Mining, poorly planned construction, road cutting and habitat fragmentation can add to environmental pressures making the combined impact of development activities an important consideration.
The current dispute follows years of debate over how much of the mountain range should receive protection. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel led by Madhav Gadgil, recommended extensive protection based on ecological sensitivity and decentralised decision making. A subsequent high-level working group led by K Kasturirangan proposed a narrower approach focused on natural landscapes, identifying approximately 59,940 square kilometres for protection.
Successive drafts have attempted to balance conservation with concerns raised by state governments and residents. However, repeated disagreements have prevented the notification from being finalised.
The extended deadline until July 2027 provides the Centre with an opportunity to examine objections resolve discrepancies in village boundaries and conduct field surveys where necessary. State governments are expected to cooperate in establishing accurate boundaries while residents need clear information about which activities would be permitted or prohibited.
The challenge is to correct genuine mapping errors and address local concerns without weakening the ecological protection needed across the Western Ghats. A final notification that recognises the realities of settled landscapes while safeguarding sensitive ecosystems will be crucial to achieving long term conservation.