GS 3- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Keywords- Kasturirangan Committee , Gadgil Committee , Ecocentric, Technocentric, Eco-Sensitive Areas, Western Ghats, protected areas

Why in news?

Recently Karnataka CM has asserted that declaring Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive Area would adversely affect the livelihood of people in the region, with Karnataka having the highest percentage of the Eco-Sensitive Area ESA- 46.50 per cent. However, the environmental experts called the state’s opposition disastrous for the ecologically fragile Western Ghats.

What are Eco-Sensitive Areas?

1. Eco-Sensitive Areas are located within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
2. ESAs are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under Environment Protection Act 1986.
3. The basic aim is to regulate certain activities to minimise the adverse impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.

Importance of Western Ghats:

1. The Western Ghats is an extensive region spanning over six States. It is the home to many endangered plants and animals. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
2. It is one of the eight “hottest hot-spots” of biological diversity in the world.
3. Western Ghats influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon.

Madhav Gadgil Report:

1. Report proposed that this entire area be designated as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
2. Within this area, smaller regions were to be identified as ESZ I, II or III based on their existing condition and nature of threat. According to the report, 64% area would fall under ESZ I or II.
3. None of the 6 States accepted the recommendations.

Kasturirangan Committee Report:

The Kasturirangan committee sought to balance the development and environment protection in contrast to recommendations proposed by the Gadgil Report.
Major recommendations were:

1. The committee proposed 37 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats, which is roughly 60,000 square kilometres, to be declared as eco-sensitive area (ESA).
2. The report recommended a blanket ban on mining, quarrying, setting up of red category industries and thermal power projects.
3. Report stated that the impact of infrastructural projects on the forest and wildlife should be studied before permission is given for these activities.
4. Report also stated that the UNESCO Heritage tag is an opportunity to build global and domestic recognition of the enormous natural wealth that exists in the Western Ghats.
5. The 39 sites are located across the Western Ghats and distributed across the states (Kerala 19), Karnataka (10), Tamil Nadu (6) and Maharashtra (4).
6. The boundary of the sites, are in most cases, boundaries of the legally demarcated national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and forest divisions and therefore, already accorded with high level of protection.
7. The Eco-Sensitive Area mapping and demarcation done by the committee also indicates that all sites are within this area. The state governments should view the development and build a plan to protect, conserve and value the resources and opportunities of the region.

Why State Government's not implementing the report?

1. The state governments believes that implementation of the report will halt the developmental activities in the region.
2. The Kasturirangan Report has been prepared based on the satellite images, but the ground reality is different.
3. People of the region have adopted agriculture and horticultural activities in an eco-friendly manner. Priority has been accorded for environment protection under the Forest Protection Act.
4. Thus, bringing one more regulation that would affect the livelihood of the local people is not appropriate.

Impact of the non-implementation of the Report on the Western Ghats:

1. A Professor at Center for Ecological Sciences department said that considering the changes in climate, which would affect the livelihood of all people, it is prudent to conserve the fragile ecosystems than spending resources for restoration / rejuvenation.
2. Wildlife conservationist Joseph Hoover said that we are in the throes of extreme climate events, which are impacting nature and people. If the government truly cares for the welfare of 22 crore people who are sustained by the Western Ghats, it would accept at least 85 per cent of the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee. Else, it would be the reason for the sufferings of the people.

What is the present status of the deemed forest land?

1. There is a growing concern over the forest encroachments. For example, in Karnataka, the state government has planned to further shrink the deemed forest area from 3,30,186.938 hectares to 2 lakh hectares.
2. There have been massive exploitation of forest across the forest areas and these have been done at the behest of political leaders, industrialists and forest officials.

Conclusion

• Thus, It is a technocentric vs ecocentric development debate. Hence, decisions should be based on scientific study rather popular will. Any further delay in the implementation will only making a biological Hotspot to get collapsed under the unsustainable anthropogenic exploitation.

Mains Question

Q. In the light of recent virtual summit, to implement the Kasturirangan report, none of the six States is willing to implement the report. In this backdrop, try to examine the recommendations of Kasturirangan Rangan report. And, also suggest some out of box ecocentric approaches to preserve this fragile ecosystem. (15 marks)

Sources- Indian Express