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Western Ghats: Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports on ecologically sensitive areas
ଖବରରେ କାହିଁକି?
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 ମିନିଟ
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.
ଉତ୍ସ: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
ମୁଖ୍ୟ ତଥ୍ୟ
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
ପ୍ରିଲିମ୍ସ · ମେନ୍ସ
How the exam will ask it
ପ୍ରିଲିମ୍ସ
- 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.
ମେନ୍ସ
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
ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଖନ୍ତୁ
ଉତ୍ତର: 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
The Kasturirangan High-Level Working Group (2013) recommended that what share of the Western Ghats be declared an Ecologically Sensitive Area?
- 20 per cent
- 37 per cent
- 50 per cent
- 64 per cent
ଉତ୍ତର ଦେଖନ୍ତୁ
ଉତ୍ତର: B — The correct answer is 37 per cent. The Kasturirangan panel recommended about 37 per cent of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area, narrower than the Gadgil panel's approach of treating the entire range as sensitive.
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