Daily Current Affairs :26-July-2023
Last week, a tragic landslide in Maharashtra’s Raigad district claimed 27 lives and devastated an entire village. This catastrophe has once again brought the 2011 Dr. Madhav Gadgil report on the conservation of the Western Ghats into the spotlight. The report, submitted by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), headed by ecologist Dr. Madhav Gadgil, contains valuable recommendations to protect this ecologically sensitive region.
The Gadgil Report’s Recommendations:
- Classification of Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ):
The report suggested classifying 64 percent of the Western Ghats, spread over six states, into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, ESZ 2, and ESZ 3). These zones would have different levels of environmental protection measures.
- Designating the Entire Region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA):
The report recommended designating the entire Western Ghats region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area, imposing stringent regulations to safeguard its delicate ecosystems.
- Halting Developmental Activities in ESZ 1:
In ESZ 1, the report called for a complete stoppage of almost all developmental activities, including mining, construction of thermal power plants, and dams. Projects that have completed their shelf life should also be decommissioned.
- Prohibitions and Permissions:
The Gadgil report listed several prohibitions and permissions, including the ban on genetically modified crops, use of plastic bags, establishment of Special Economic Zones, and creation of new hill stations. It also advocated against converting farmland to non-farm land and halting river diversions to protect the region’s ecology.
- Bottom-to-Top Approach in Governance:
The report emphasized a bottom-to-top approach in environmental governance, encouraging decentralization and granting more powers to local authorities for better conservation and sustainable development.
- Creation of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority:
To oversee the ecological management of the region, the report recommended establishing a Western Ghats Ecology Authority under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Sustainable Farming Practices:
The report advocated banning single commercial crops like tea, coffee, cardamom, rubber, banana, and pineapple, which have contributed to forest fragmentation, soil erosion, and river ecosystem degradation. Shifting to more sustainable farming practices was deemed crucial.
- Involvement of Citizens:
The Gadgil report emphasized actively involving citizens, implementing provisions of the Community Forest Resources of the Forest Rights Act sympathetically, and encouraging their participation in conservation efforts.
The Kasturirangam Committee’s Approach:
In 2012, the government constituted a High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats under Dr. K Kasturirangan. This committee formulated a report to replace the Gadgil Report and took a different approach.
- Reduced Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA):
The Kasturirangan committee notified only 37 percent of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive, reducing the area recommended by the Gadgil report.
- Classification into Cultural and Natural Regions:
Unlike the Gadgil Report’s ESZ classification, the Kasturirangan committee divided the Western Ghats into cultural (human settlements) and natural (non-human settlements) regions. Cultural lands were designated as ESA.
- Red, Orange, and Green Categories:
The Kasturirangan report introduced a three-tier categorization system. The red category included a ban on mining, stone quarrying, thermal plants, and certain construction and township projects. The orange category regulated activities with appropriate permissions, while the green category allowed agricultural, horticultural, and commercial activities.
Recent Developments:
In 2017, the Environment Ministry issued a draft notification, demarcating an area of 56,285 sq km in the Western Ghats as ESA, differing from the 59,940 sq km recommended by the Kasturirangan committee. In 2022, a high-powered committee was constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change to conduct physical landscaping and submit a detailed report within a year.
Important Points:
Gadgil Report’s Recommendations:
- Classification of 64% of Western Ghats into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ 1, ESZ 2, and ESZ 3)
- Designating the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)
- Halting almost all developmental activities in ESZ 1, including mining, thermal power plants, and dams
- Prohibitions: Ban on genetically modified crops, plastic bags, Special Economic Zones, new hill stations
- Permissions: Halting conversions of farmland to non-farm land, stopping diversions of rivers
- Advocating for a bottom-to-top approach in governance for more local involvement
- Recommendation to establish a Western Ghats Ecology Authority for better management
- Call for sustainable farming practices and banning single commercial crops
- Involving citizens and implementing provisions of the Forest Rights Act
Kasturirangam Committee’s Approach:
- Reduced the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) to 37% of the Western Ghats
- Classified the Western Ghats into cultural and natural regions
- Introduced red, orange, and green categories for varying degrees of regulations
- 2017 draft notification demarcated 56,285 sq km as ESA
- 2022 high-powered committee formed to submit a detailed report
Recent Developments:
- The landslide tragedy in Maharashtra’s Raigad district raised concerns about Western Ghats conservation
- Government constituted the Kasturirangan committee to replace the Gadgil Report
- Environment Ministry issued a draft notification for ESA
- High-powered committee formed in 2022 to conduct a detailed report on the Western Ghats
Why In News
Last week’s devastating landslide in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, which tragically claimed 27 lives and flattened an entire village, has reignited concerns over the 2011 Dr. Madhav Gadgil report on the urgent need for conservation measures in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.The harrowing incident serves as a stark reminder of the pressing importance of implementing the recommendations laid out in the Dr. Madhav Gadgil report to safeguard the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats and prevent future disasters of such magnitude.
MCQs about Gadgil Report and Kasturirangan Committee Insights
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What was the key recommendation of the Gadgil Report for the Western Ghats?
A. Classifying 37% of the Western Ghats into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ)
B. Designating the entire region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)
C. Allowing mining and thermal power plants in ESZ 1
D. Banning single commercial crops like tea and coffee
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What is the major difference between the Gadgil Report and the Kasturirangan Committee’s approaches?
A. Gadgil Report recommended reducing the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) to 37%
B. Kasturirangan Committee advocated for banning single commercial crops
C. Gadgil Report proposed splitting the Western Ghats into cultural and natural regions
D. Kasturirangan Committee called for a bottom-to-top approach in governance
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What did the Kasturirangan Committee’s red category entail?
A. Ban on mining, stone quarrying, thermal plants, and certain construction projects
B. Regulation of activities with appropriate permissions
C. Allowing all agricultural and horticultural activities
D. Ban on genetically modified crops and plastic bags
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What is the recent development in relation to the Western Ghats conservation?
A. The creation of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority
B. A draft notification demarcating 59,940 sq km as ESA
C. Formation of the Kasturirangan committee in 2012
D. A high-powered committee’s formation in 2022 for a detailed report
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