To protect Western Ghats, southern states must break impasse

The implementation of a series of measures to protect the Western Ghats, proposed by a committee headed by the eminent scientist K Kasturirangan, has been hanging fire for more than 12 years. State governments in the region — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka — pushed back against the proposal to declare 60,000 sq km of the Western Ghats, roughly 37 per cent of the mountain chain, as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). They took exception to the Kasturirangan Committee’s proposal to ban mining, polluting industries, thermal power plants and large constructions in the ESA. The governments of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa have now relented. This could pave the way for ESA protection in about 19,000 sq km of the Western Ghats.

The continuous mountain chain, with a break at the Palakkad Gap on the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, harbours one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. Its landform influences the monsoon by acting as a barrier to moisture-bearing winds, resulting in bountiful rainfall along the Western Ghats’ coastal side. It’s the source of the Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Periyar, and several other rivers. The region is much more densely populated compared to several other ecologically sensitive areas — the Himalaya, for instance. This means the argument pitting environmental protection against development has gained traction in the region’s six states, even though ecologists have consistently emphasised that ESAs would not harm farm livelihoods. In fact, environmental protection could shield agriculturists against climate vagaries.

The Kerala floods of 2018 and the Wayanad landslide in 2024 underscored the perils of not respecting the frailties of the Western Ghats. That’s why Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have about two-thirds of the ESA area proposed by the Kasturirangan Committee, need to be brought on board urgently. The benefits of ecological services provided by the Western Ghats — water security, carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation and climate regulation — extend beyond the region. Some ecologists, therefore, believe that a system to remunerate the area’s people for such services could help reconcile economic aspirations with ecological realities and break the impasse on the Kasturirangan Committee report in the southern states. Such conversations need to inform policymaking.

Overall Analysis

This editorial argues for the urgent implementation of ecological protection measures in the Western Ghats, based on the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee. The author highlights how political resistance and concerns over development have delayed the proposal for over a decade, despite the ecological significance of the region and growing evidence of environmental vulnerability.

The editorial begins by describing the prolonged deadlock surrounding the declaration of large portions of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). The author notes that state governments opposed restrictions on mining, industries, thermal power plants, and large construction projects, fearing adverse impacts on economic development. However, the recent willingness of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa to accept the recommendations is presented as a positive development that could revive conservation efforts.

The article then emphasizes the immense ecological importance of the Western Ghats. The author uses factual and descriptive language to showcase its role as a biodiversity hotspot, a regulator of the monsoon, and the source of several major rivers. By highlighting these environmental services, the editorial challenges the common perception that conservation and development are inherently opposed. Instead, it argues that environmental protection can actually support livelihoods, particularly by reducing the risks posed by climate change and ecological degradation.

In the final section, the editorial strengthens its argument by referring to recent disasters such as the Kerala floods and the Wayanad landslide. These examples serve as evidence of the consequences of ignoring ecological warnings. The author advocates bringing Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu into the conservation framework and suggests innovative solutions such as compensating local communities for the ecological services they help preserve. This approach seeks to balance environmental sustainability with economic aspirations, thereby offering a practical way to overcome political resistance.

Overall, the editorial combines environmental awareness, scientific reasoning, and policy recommendations to argue that protecting the Western Ghats is not merely a regional concern but a national necessity.

Important Vocabulary (5)

1. Impasse – a situation where no progress can be made due to disagreement.
2. Harbours – contains or provides shelter to something.
3. Traction – acceptance, support, or momentum gained by an idea.
4. Vagaries – unpredictable changes or fluctuations.
5. Remunerate – to compensate or pay for services rendered.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial contends that protecting the Western Ghats is essential for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and long-term economic security. It urges the remaining southern states to move beyond political disagreements and adopt a balanced approach that aligns ecological preservation with local development needs.

Tone: Analytical, persuasive, and environmentally conscious.