Gadgil Report on Western Ghats: Why the Gadgil Report Still Shapes Environmental Debate

Gadgil Report Latest News

• Eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away at 83 in Pune, leaving behind a lasting environmental legacy. 
• Among his many contributions, his role as chair of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) remains the most influential. 
• Although the panel’s report was rejected by the then government, Gadgil consistently advocated for safeguarding the fragile Western Ghats from unregulated development. 
• Years on, the report’s warnings and recommendations continue to resurface in public debate, especially after landslides and ecological disasters in the region, underscoring its enduring relevance.

A Prescription for Protecting the Western Ghats

• The Western Ghats stretch from Gujarat to Kerala and Tamil Nadu and act as the water tower of peninsular India. 
• Major rivers like the Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna, Periyar and Netravathi originate here. 
• The region is a global biodiversity hotspot with high endemism, hosting species found nowhere else.

Why the WGEEP Was Set Up

• In March 2010, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) was constituted due to the region’s ecological sensitivity, complex geography and growing threats from climate change and unregulated development.
• The panel’s formation was triggered by a 2010 meeting of the Save Western Ghats movement in the Nilgiris, attended by then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh. The deliberations led to the creation of WGEEP.
• The panel was tasked with: 
  • assessing the ecology of the Western Ghats, identifying ecologically sensitive areas, 
  • recommending ecologically sensitive zones, and 
  • proposing conservation, rejuvenation and governance mechanisms for sustainable development.

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Recommendations of the Gadgil Panel

• Entire Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive – The Gadgil-led panel designated the entire 1,29,037 sq km of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), reflecting the region’s overall ecological fragility.
• Three-Tier Sensitivity Zoning – The Ghats were divided into three categories — ESZ 1, ESZ 2 and ESZ 3 — based on levels of ecological sensitivity, with stricter controls in the more fragile zones.
• Restrictions on Development Activities – The panel proposed banning genetically modified crops, new special economic zones and new hill stations across ESZs. 
  • It called for no new mining licences and the phase-out of existing mines within five years in ESZ 1 and 2, and a complete ban on new quarrying in ESZ 1.
• Limits on Infrastructure Expansion – New railway lines and major roads were to be avoided in ESZ 1 and 2, except where absolutely essential, to minimise ecological disruption.
• Creation of a Statutory Authority – The report recommended setting up a 24-member Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) under the Environment Protection Act to regulate, manage and plan activities across all ecologically sensitive zones in the six Western Ghats States.
• Composition of the Authority – The proposed authority was to include domain and resource experts, along with representatives from key nodal ministries, ensuring coordinated, multi-state environmental governance.

Political Opposition to the Gadgil Panel Report

• The Gadgil panel submitted its draft report in March 2011 and the final version in August 2011. 
• The report was not made public and was instead shared with State governments for comments.
  • Environmental groups challenged the secrecy through RTI applications. 
  • After intervention by the Chief Information Commissioner and subsequent court proceedings, the report was finally made public in May 2012.
• Gadgil argued that the report promoted inclusive development and recommended placing its proposals before Gram Sabhas to move away from exclusionary models of conservation and growth.

State-Level Resistance

• The report faced strong opposition from Kerala and Maharashtra. 
• Maharashtra objected to the proposed Western Ghats Ecology Authority, calling it a parallel structure to existing institutions.
• Kerala argued that declaring large areas as ecologically sensitive would hurt agriculture and livelihoods in districts such as Idukki and Wayanad. 
• Political leaders and the Catholic Church warned of economic disruption and displacement of local communities.

The Kasturirangan Panel and the Scaled-Down Western Ghats Plan

• After widespread opposition to the Gadgil report, the Environment Ministry set up a High-Level Working Group in 2012 under space scientist K. Kasturirangan to review the recommendations.

Key Recommendations of the 2013 Report

• The Kasturirangan panel proposed declaring about 56,825 sq km of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive. 
• It supported curbs on mining, polluting industries, thermal power plants, and large townships, but adopted a narrower approach than the Gadgil panel.
• Unlike the earlier report, the panel identified specific villages as ecologically sensitive and released state-wise lists, making the proposal more targeted and administratively feasible.

Policy Deadlock Continues

• Based on the report, the Centre has issued six draft ESA notifications, the latest in August 2024. 
• However, disagreements with States persist, and a committee led by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar is still working to finalise the boundaries.

Source: IE | TH