Western Ghats eco-sensitive zones proposal sparks fresh concerns among residents

The latest draft notification on eco-sensitive zones in the Western Ghats, released by the Union government on July 27, 2026, has reignited concerns among residents, farmers, and local communities across the region. The proposal seeks to designate substantial areas across the mountain range as eco-sensitive zones in accordance with the Kasturirangan committee's recommendations, a framework that has remained contentious since its initial formulation.

The notification provides stakeholders with a 60-day period to submit objections and suggestions, a process that has become familiar to communities in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra over the past decade. The repeated iterations of the draft have reflected the persistent tension between environmental conservation goals and the economic interests of residents dependent on land-based activities in the region.

The Western Ghats, recognized globally as a biodiversity hotspot, has been the subject of multiple conservation proposals since the Kasturirangan committee's report was submitted to the government. Each subsequent draft has attempted to balance ecological protection with concerns raised by agricultural communities, plantation workers, and small businesses about restrictions on traditional land use and economic activities.

Environmental groups have generally supported stronger protections for the region's fragile ecosystems, while local stakeholders have raised objections regarding potential curbs on farming, construction, and resource extraction. The latest draft signals the government's continued commitment to implementing some form of eco-sensitive zoning, though its final shape remains uncertain pending the current round of public consultation.