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Western Ghats: Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports on ecologically sensitive areas
ಸುದ್ದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಏಕೆ?
Whole Ghats or just 37 per cent? Gadgil versus Kasturirangan, the ESA contrast GS-III Environment keeps testing
Gadgil proposed the whole Ghats as sensitive; Kasturirangan recommended about 37% as ecologically sensitive area.
Why it matters: asked in KPSC 2024; factual, Prelims-type; Karnataka-specific
What you need to know
2 ನಿಮಿಷ
The Western Ghats, which run through Karnataka along with five other states, remain at the centre of the debate on ecologically sensitive areas.
The Gadgil panel of 2011 proposed treating the whole Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive, with graded zones.
The Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group of 2013 recommended that about 37 per cent of the Ghats be notified as an ecologically sensitive area.
ಮೂಲಗಳು: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ಮುಖ್ಯ ಅಂಶಗಳು
Remember these
- Gadgil panel (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel), 2011: proposed treating the entire Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive
- Gadgil's approach used graded Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ I, II and III)
- Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group, 2013: about 37 per cent of the Ghats to be notified as Ecologically Sensitive Area
- The Western Ghats run through six states, including Karnataka
- The Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biodiversity hotspot
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್ · ಮೇನ್ಸ್
How the exam will ask it
ಪ್ರಿಲಿಮ್ಸ್
- The Gadgil panel recommended that the whole Western Ghats be treated as ecologically sensitive, with graded zones.
- The Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group recommended that about 37 per cent of the Western Ghats be notified as an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
- The Western Ghats pass through six states, including Karnataka.
- Ecologically Sensitive Areas are notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
ಮೇನ್ಸ್
GS-III (Environment and Conservation) and Karnataka-specific papers. The issue is balancing conservation of the Ghats with development and livelihoods: Gadgil sought whole-range protection with graded zones, while Kasturirangan narrowed ESA to about 37 per cent, and states have resisted restrictions. The way forward is participatory, science-based zoning that involves local communities and gram sabhas and regulates mining, quarrying and large projects.
PYQ connection
A question UPSC has already asked on this
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the K. Kasturirangan Committee? a) The Committee was set up in 2022. b) It was set up to study the status of important ecological areas in the Western Ghats. c) The Karnataka Government accepted the Kasturirangan Committee report in September 2024.
- a, b and c are correct
- only c is correct
- only b is correct
- only a and b are correct
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: C
Why this matters: today's issue is directly connected to a concept UPSC has already tested. Read the story with this question in mind.
Practise this PYQ →Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
ಕಸ್ತೂರಿರಂಗನ್ ಉನ್ನತ ಮಟ್ಟದ ಕಾರ್ಯಪಡೆ (2013) ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ಎಷ್ಟು ಭಾಗವನ್ನು ಪರಿಸರ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಪ್ರದೇಶವೆಂದು ಘೋಷಿಸಲು ಶಿಫಾರಸು ಮಾಡಿತು?
- ಶೇ 20
- ಶೇ 37
- ಶೇ 50
- ಶೇ 64
ಉತ್ತರ ನೋಡಿ
ಉತ್ತರ: B — ಸರಿಯಾದ ಉತ್ತರ ಶೇ 37. ಕಸ್ತೂರಿರಂಗನ್ ಸಮಿತಿ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ಸುಮಾರು ಶೇ 37ರಷ್ಟನ್ನು ಪರಿಸರ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಪ್ರದೇಶವೆಂದು ಶಿಫಾರಸು ಮಾಡಿತು; ಗಾಡ್ಗೀಳ್ ಸಮಿತಿ ಇಡೀ ಘಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮವೆಂದು ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಲು ಹೇಳಿತ್ತು.
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