Centre Reissues Draft Notification for Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area

The recurring nature of this notification—now in its seventh iteration—underscores the complex challenge of balancing environmental conservation with developmental aspirations in a federal structure. The lack of consensus among the states has led to repeated delays, leaving the region in a state of regulatory uncertainty. For policymakers, the challenge lies in creating a framework that ensures the ecological integrity of the Western Ghats while addressing the socio-economic concerns of the states and local populations. The ongoing impasse highlights the need for a collaborative approach, involving extensive stakeholder consultations and the integration of scientific data with local socio-economic realities to arrive at a sustainable, long-term conservation strategy. UPSC Relevance: This issue is highly relevant for GS Paper III (Environment and Ecology) regarding conservation and environmental impact assessment, and GS Paper II (Federalism) concerning the friction between Union and State governments on policy implementation. Aspirants should focus on the recommendations of the Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees, the ecological significance of the Western Ghats, and the challenges of implementing environmental policies in a federal setup.