Western Ghats region comes under the top eight biodiversity hotspots in the world and it hosts over 400 species and seven distinct vegetation types. The Western Ghats are often in the news due to the constant threats to their biodiversity.

1. Sarath Chandran R.
Research scholar
Department of Education
University of Kerala, Kerala, India
sarathcrtvm@gmail.com

2.  Western Ghats region comes under the top eight biodiversity
hotspots in the world and it host over 400 species and seven
distinct vegetation types.
 The Western Ghats are often in the news due to constant threat
to their biodiversity.
 In view of the environmental sensitivity and ecological
significance of the Western Ghats region and the complex
interstate nature of its geography, as well as possible impacts of
climate change on this region, the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, Government of India, constituted, by an order dated 4th
March 2010, a Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP)
under the chairmanship of Prof. Madhav Gadgil and submitted
their report on 31st August 2011.

3.  The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel Report clearly defined
the Western Ghats mountain range as that runs along the west
coast of peninsular India from Tamil Nadu through Kerala,
Karnataka and Goa to Maharashtra and is well known for its
majestic beauty.

4. Terms of references of the panel
 To assess the current status of ecology of the Western
Ghats region.
 Demarcate areas within the Western Ghats Region to be
notified as Ecologically Sensitive Zones under the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. In doing so, the
Panel shall review the existing reports, such as the
Pronab Sen Committee report, Dr. T. S. Vijayaraghavan
Committee report, Hon’ble Supreme Court’s directions,
Recommendations of the National Board for Wildlife,
and consult all the concerned States.

5.  Make recommendations for the conservation,
protection and rejuvenation of the Western
Ghats Region following a comprehensive
consultation process involving people and
governments of all concerned States.
 Suggest measures for effective implementation
of the notifications issued by the government
of India in the Ministry of Environment and
forests declaring specific areas in the Western
Ghats Region as Eco-sensitive Zones under
the Environment (Protection) Act , 1986

6.  Recommend the modalities for the establishment of
Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) under the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which will be a
professional body to manage the ecology of the
region and to ensure its sustainable development with
the support of all concerned States.
 Deal with any other relevant environment and
ecological issues pertaining to Western Ghats Region,
including those which may be referred to it by the
Central Government in the Ministry of Environment
and Forests.

7. To evaluate and submit reports on
a) The Athirappilly Hydro-electric Project
b) Gundia Hydro-electric project
c) To suggest an appropriate course of further
development of mining, power production
and polluting industries in Ratnagiri and
Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra.

8. 1) Biodiversity values
2) Ecosystem services values of the Western
Ghats
3) The ecological integrity of the Western Ghats

9. • The entire Western Ghats had to be divided
based on the significance of the area. Thus,
three categories have been identified,
namely
 Most significant area - Ecologically Sensitive Zone
I (ESZ 1)
• Moderately significant area - ESZ 2
• Less significant area - ESZ 3

10.  The parameters considered are:
 (1) Biological features:
 (2) Cultural and Historical significance
 (3) Geo-climatic features
 (4) Hazard vulnerability:
 (5) Stakeholders valuation:
 (6) Areas of origin of rivers, habitats
contiguous to national parks and sanctuaries,
riverine vegetation.

11. Relevance of Gadgil report in Kerala state
 Gadgil report has very high relevance in the case of Kerala state
especially in the inter phase of increased landslides and flood.
 There is a strong relationship between western ghat and recently
occurred landslide and flood in Kerala. According to Prof. Madhav
Gadgil, Kerala flood was the man made calamity.
 In Kerala, there are 15 taluks comes under the ESZ 1, 2 taluks
under the ESZ 2 and 8 taluks under the ESZ 3.
 In some areas, the committee recommended strong restrictions on
mining and quarrying, use of land for non-forest purposes,
construction of high rises etc. the committee had strongly
recommended a ban on certain new industrial and mining activities
in the area and called for strict regulation of many other
developmental works in consultation with local communities and
gram panchayats.

12.  In Kerala the following areas are comes under the
ecologically sensitive area.
 Mandakol, Panathadi, Paithal Mala, Brahmagiri-
Thirunelli, Wayanad, Banasura-Kuttiyadi, Nilumbur-
Mepadi, Silent Valley- New Amarambalam, Siruvani ,
Nelliampathy, Peechi-Vazhani, Athirappilly-Vazhachal,
Pooyamkutty Munnar, Cardamom Hills, Periyar
,Kulathupuzha, Agasthya Mala.

13.  Ecologically Sensitive Zone I is the most significant area
and there is no change of land use from forest to non-forest
use or agriculture to non-agriculture, except agriculture to
forest, and except when extension of existing village
settlement areas to accommodate increase in population of
local residents and should be promote organic agricultural
practices by phasing out use of chemical pesticides/
weedicides.
 More over there is no new licenses for mining and no new
thermal plants and large scale wind power projects in Zone
1. There are 15 taluks comes under the ESZ 1 in Kerala.

14.  According to the Gadgil committee report, Ecologically Sensitive
Zone 2 (ESZ 2) is the moderately significant area and also
recommended to restrict the use of chemical pesticides and
weedicides, mining and other ecologically unethical activities.
 In the case of mining in zone 2, it can be reviewed case by case. Ecologically
Sensitive Zone 3 is the less significant area and also restricted the use of
chemicals but new mining may be taken up in this zone.
 However, the committee clearly and repeatedly said that, the report should be
discussed at the panchayath level and the final decisions on all the
recommendations given should be taken with their consent; whether it is for
demarcating the Ecologically Sensitive Zones or for the various activities to be
undertaken in each of them.

15.  Gadgil committee prepared their recommendations on the basis of existing
condition of Western Ghats and report undergoes many criticisms and
discussions among south Indian peoples including Kerala.
 Actually there is no need of any type of allegations and controversies,
because the report is ecofriendly and farmers friendly at the same level.
Hence the Gadgil committee report should implement in the Western Ghats
and protect and conserve our nature for coming generations. Already we, the
Kerala people felt the big landslides and flood in Western Ghat region and it
also emphasize that the need of implementation of Gadgil committee report.