Western Ghats Conservation: Karnataka Legislature’s Rejection of Kasturirangan Panel Recommendations

The Karnataka Legislature has unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the K. Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats in its current form. This legislative action follows the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s release of the seventh draft notification in July 2026, which sought to designate specific regions of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA). The state’s decision highlights the persistent tension between environmental conservation mandates and the socio-economic aspirations of local communities residing in the region. The Kasturirangan Committee report, which has been a subject of intense debate for over a decade, recommends strict land-use regulations, including a ban on mining, quarrying, and large-scale construction projects in identified ESA zones. Proponents of the report argue that such measures are critical to preserving the biodiversity of the Western Ghats—a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the world’s eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity. Conversely, the Karnataka government and local stakeholders contend that the implementation of these recommendations would severely restrict infrastructure development, agricultural expansion, and the livelihoods of forest-dwelling communities.