Karnataka renews resistance to Western Ghats ESA designation

Karnataka's state legislature passed a resolution on September 22 reiterating the state's opposition to the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) designation for portions of the Western Ghats, marking another chapter in the state's long-running dispute with the proposed conservation framework.

The Kasturirangan Committee, appointed to study environmental conservation in the Western Ghats, had recommended declaring approximately 37 percent of the mountain range as an ESA—a designation that would impose significant restrictions on developmental activities including mining, quarrying, and large-scale industrial projects. The committee's recommendations formed the basis for a draft ESA proposal at the national level.

Karnataka has consistently objected to the ESA framework, arguing that the restrictions would severely hamper economic development and agricultural activities in districts such as Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, and Kodagu. The state has raised concerns that stringent environmental regulations would impact local communities dependent on forest resources and development projects.

Instead of accepting the ESA designation as proposed, Karnataka has advocated for alternative approaches to environmental protection that balance conservation with development imperatives. The state has proposed modified frameworks that would allow for regulated economic activities while maintaining ecological safeguards in the Western Ghats region.

The dispute reflects the broader tension in India between environmental conservation and developmental aspirations, with the Western Ghats—home to significant biodiversity and endemic species—remaining a focal point of these competing interests across multiple states.