Gadgil Report

Context

• Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away in Pune at the age of 83. His contributions to environmental conservation have been profound and long-lasting. Among his achievements, his role as Chairman of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) is considered most significant.
• Although the then government did not approve the panel's report, Gadgil continued to advocate throughout his life for protecting the sensitive ecological region of the Western Ghats from uncontrolled development.
• Indeed, despite the passage of time, the warnings and suggestions contained in this report have repeatedly surfaced in public discourse after landslides and other environmental disasters, underscoring its current relevance.

A Framework for Conservation of the Western Ghats

• The Western Ghats extend from Gujarat to Kerala and Tamil Nadu and are considered the "watershed" of peninsular India.
• ​​Several major rivers, such as the Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna, Periyar, and Netravati, originate here.
• This region is a globally important biodiversity hotspot, home to numerous endemic species found nowhere else.

Objective of the Establishment of the Western Ghats Ecological Expert Panel

• The Western Ghats Ecological Expert Panel (WGEEP) was established in March 2010, taking into account the ecological sensitivity of the Western Ghats, their complex geomorphological structure, and the threats posed by climate change and uncontrolled development.
• The formation of this panel was inspired by the meeting of the "Save Western Ghats" movement held in the Nilgiris in 2010.

Responsibilities assigned to the panel

• Study the ecology of the Western Ghats and identify sensitive areas
• Recommend ecologically sensitive zones (ESZs)
• Suggest conservation, restoration, and governance measures to ensure sustainable development

Key recommendations of the Gadgil panel

• Entire Western Ghats Sensitive Zone: The Gadgil-led panel recommended declaring the entire 129,037 square kilometer area of ​​the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ), recognizing the region's overall ecological sensitivity.
• Three-tier Sensitivity Division: The Western Ghats were classified into ESZ-1, ESZ-2, and ESZ-3 based on ecological sensitivity, with stricter controls proposed in more sensitive areas.
• Restrictions on development activities: The panel recommended a ban on the establishment of genetically modified crops, new Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and new hill stations in ESZ areas. Additionally, it recommended not granting new mining licenses in ESZ-1 and ESZ-2, phasing out existing mines over five years, and a complete ban on new mining in ESZ-1.
• Control on infrastructure expansion: To limit environmental damage, it recommended approving new railway lines and major road projects in ESZ-1 and ESZ-2 only in urgent situations.
• Establishment of a statutory authority: The report proposed the formation of a 24-member Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) under the Environment Protection Act to plan, manage, and regulate sensitive areas in the six Western Ghats states.
• Structure of the Authority: The proposed body recommended including subject matter experts and resource specialists, as well as representatives from key nodal ministries, to ensure coordinated environmental governance at a multi-state level. Political Opposition to the Gadgil Panel Report
• The Gadgil Panel submitted a draft report in March 2011 and a final report in August 2011. However, this report was not made public but was sent to states for comments.
• Environmental organizations challenged this secrecy through the Right to Information (RTI).
•  Following the intervention of the Chief Information Commissioner and subsequent judicial proceedings, the report was made public in May 2012.
• Gadgil believed that the report promoted inclusive development and recommended that its suggestions be placed before village councils to move beyond a single-minded approach to conservation and development.

State Objections

• The report faced strong opposition in Kerala and Maharashtra.
• Maharashtra objected to the proposed Western Ghats Ecology Authority, calling it a parallel system to existing institutions.
• The Kerala government argued that declaring large areas sensitive would impact agriculture and livelihoods in districts like Idukki and Wayanad.
• Furthermore, the political leadership and the Catholic Church expressed fears of economic losses and displacement of local populations.

The Kasturirangan Panel and the Revised Western Ghats Plan

Following widespread opposition to the Gadgil Report, the Environment Ministry constituted a high-level working group in 2012, headed by space scientist K. Kasturirangan, to re-examine its recommendations.

Highlights of the 2013 Report

• The Kasturirangan Panel proposed declaring approximately 56,825 square kilometers as ecologically sensitive.
• The report supported controls on mining, polluting industries, thermal power plants, and large townships, although its approach was more limited than that of the Gadgil Panel.
• Unlike the earlier report, the panel identified specific villages as sensitive areas and issued state-wise lists, making the proposal more targeted and administratively feasible.

Policy impasse continues to this day

Based on this report, the central government has issued six draft ESA notifications, the most recent in August 2024. Disagreements with the states persist, and the committee headed by former Director General of Forests Sanjay Kumar, tasked with finalizing the boundaries of the Western Ghats, is still working.