Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area Stuck Amid Rising Floods
Why in News?
- A study by the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy found that floods in the proposed Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area rose about 1,000 per cent between 1970-80 and 2010-20, Down To Earth reported on 9 November 2026.
- The area of 56,825.7 sq km across six states accounted for 7,983 landslides from 1905 to 2024, about 23.3 per cent of India's total. Its notification remains stuck: the Union environment ministry's draft of 27 July was the seventh such draft, and none of the six states has reportedly backed it.
- The researchers say safeguards will apply only after formal notification.
Key Terminologies
- Western Ghats
- A mountain range along India's west coast from Gujarat to Kerala, a biodiversity hotspot and the source of many peninsular rivers. It is also called the Sahyadri in the north.
- Ecologically Sensitive Area
- An area notified by the Union government under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in which certain activities, such as mining and large polluting industry, are regulated or banned.
- Gadgil and Kasturirangan Reports
- Two expert panels on the Western Ghats. The Gadgil panel reported in 2011 and the Kasturirangan panel in 2013, and the government has issued repeated draft notifications since.
- India Flood Inventory-Impacts
- An official database of flood events from 1967 to 2023 used by the researchers, along with landslide records of the Geological Survey of India.
- Landslide
- The downslope movement of rock, soil or debris. In the Western Ghats, heavy rain on steep, deforested and cut slopes is a common trigger.
Key Issues
- The Proposal: The Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area would cover 56,825.7 sq km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, including 47 districts. Karnataka and Maharashtra hold the largest shares.
- Stuck Notification: The Union government can finalise it, but reportedly none of the six states backs the proposal. The 27 July draft is described as the seventh.
- Landslides: The region recorded 7,983 landslides from 1905 to 2024, about 23.3 per cent of India's total, making it the third most landslide-prone region. Kerala had 3,283, and Idukki ranked second nationally with 1,791.
- Floods: Flood incidence rose about 1,000 per cent from 1970-80 to 2010-20 against 410 per cent across India, and the region's share of national floods rose from 13.4 to 28.9 per cent. Floods became shorter, 7.3 to 3.4 days on average, but far more frequent.
- Droughts: From 2011-12 to 2025-26, 38 of the 47 districts were declared drought-affected at least once, 157 declarations in all, with Karnataka having the most at 69.
Key Implications
Positive/Pros/Merits
- Evidence for Protection: Official data on landslides, floods and droughts gives a strong case for regulating land use in the Ghats.
- Clear Area Definition: The proposal names the districts and the area, which makes enforcement possible once notified.
- Scientific Input: Independent analysis by a legal policy group adds to the work of expert panels.
- Climate Link: The findings tie conservation to disaster risk, not only biodiversity.
Negative/Cons/Demerits
- Political Deadlock: Without state support, the notification has repeated through seven drafts, so protection is delayed.
- Livelihood Concerns: Restrictions on mining, quarrying and construction affect jobs and local economies, which is why states resist.
- Rising Hazards: Floods, landslides and droughts are all increasing, and communities face the risk in the meantime.
- Data Limits: Datasets such as the flood inventory end in 2023, so the latest events are not fully captured.
Key Initiatives
- Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: It issued a draft notification on 27 July, described as the seventh, for the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area.
- Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy: Its climate and ecosystems team analysed official landslide and flood datasets and urged faster consensus.
- Geological Survey of India: Its landslide records are one of the sources of the study.
- Six Western Ghats States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala must respond to the draft, and none has reportedly backed it.
The Down To Earth report did not cover the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports, which are background here. The year of the 27 July draft was not stated in the summary reviewed.
Director's Perspective
Way Forward
- Locate the Western Ghats and name the six states.
- Know the Gadgil and Kasturirangan panels and the idea of an ecologically sensitive area.
- Remember that notification under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 triggers the restrictions.
- Link deforestation, steep slopes and heavy rain to landslides.
- In answers, balance conservation with livelihoods and the role of states.
The study shows that floods, landslides and droughts are all rising in the Western Ghats while the protection proposal remains unnotified after seven drafts. The region holds about 23.3 per cent of India's recorded landslides, and its flood share has more than doubled. In a Mains answer, explain the Ghats' role in the climate and rivers of peninsular India, review the Gadgil and Kasturirangan approaches, and conclude that a notified, locally negotiated protection regime with support for livelihoods is needed to reduce disaster risk.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proposed Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area?
It is a proposed area of 56,825.7 sq km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, covering 47 districts, to be notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. It remains unnotified, with the 27 July draft described as the seventh, Down To Earth reported.
How prone is the Western Ghats region to landslides?
The region recorded 7,983 landslides from 1905 to 2024, about 23.3 per cent of India's total, making it the third most landslide-prone region. Kerala had 3,283 and Idukki district ranked second nationally with 1,791, according to the Vidhi Centre study reported on 9 November 2026.
Why is the Western Ghats notification stuck?
The Union government can finalise it, but reportedly none of the six states has backed the proposal, because restrictions affect mining, quarrying and construction. The Vidhi researchers say safeguards will apply only after formal notification and urge faster consensus.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 An ecologically sensitive area is notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Western Ghats proposal covers 56,825.7 sq km across six states.
2 The Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area proposal covers only Kerala.
It covers Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
3 The Gadgil panel on the Western Ghats reported in 2011.
The Kasturirangan panel reported in 2013.