UPSC Prelims 2016 Question:

Gadgil Committee Report’ and ‘Kasturirangan Committee Report’, sometimes seen in the news, are related to

Explanation:

• Gadgil Committee Report: The Madhav Gadgil Report (The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP)) had classified the whole of the Western Ghats, spread across six states and covering 44 districts as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) which contributes to 64 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats. This report Recommended the prohibition on development and commercial activities like mining, thermal, polluting industries and large housing plans in Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) zones.
  
  
• Kasturirangan Committee Report: The Kasturirangan Committee report (High-Level Working Group) reduced to 37 per cent of the total area of Western Ghats, which is roughly 60,000 square kilometres, to be declared as an eco-sensitive area (ESA). This report sought to balance the two concerns of development and environmental protection.
  
  

Therefore, option (4) is the correct answer.

Subject: Environment | Biodiversity and Conservation