Vidhi & ATREE Submit Joint Response to Government on the Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area Notification
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) invited public comments on the sixth Draft Notification for the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (WGESA), issued on 31st July 2024. This draft proposes to designate over 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, covering parts of six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
In response, the Climate & Ecosystems team at Vidhi, in collaboration with the Centre for Policy Design, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), has submitted a joint response offering detailed comments and recommendations on the draft. The submission focuses on improving monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and promoting eco-friendly and sustainable development within the proposed Western Ghats ESA.
Key Recommendations include:
- Phasing out existing thermal power plants and ‘Red’ category industries, with exceptions for new Primary Healthcare Centres.
- Complete ban on large river-valley projects, while smaller hydropower projects should be classified as ‘Category-A’ under the EIA Notification, 2006.
- Environmental Clearance for Wind Projects: All wind power projects within the ESA should be classified as ‘Category-A’ projects, requiring prior Environmental Clearance.
- No new or expansion of highways, railways, or high-voltage transmission lines. However, rural roads connecting existing settlements, schools, and Primary Healthcare Centres to district roads and highways, as well as the maintenance and modernisation of existing roads (without expanding the right of way), should be exempted.
- Cumulative Impact Assessments for regulated activities to provide a comprehensive understanding of the environmental effects of multiple projects in proximity to each other.
- A formal ‘pre-scoping public consultation’ process to involve local stakeholders in validating proposed projects, ensuring greater public awareness and participation before impact assessments begin. Exclusions from the public consultation process under the EIA Notification, 2006 should not apply to projects proposed within WGESA.
- A robust monitoring and evaluation framework, including the creation of an independent Decision Support and Monitoring Centre (DSMC), composed of experts in ecology, sociology, and economics, to regularly assess the region’s ecological state,monitor the impact of permitted/regulated activities, and also facilitate effective and timely grievance redressal.
- Addressing socio-economic impacts on local communities by promoting sustainable livelihoods through eco-friendly tourism, sustainable agriculture, and other green initiatives that balance environmental conservation with income generation.
You can download the complete submission from the link here to read the detailed comments and suggestions on the Draft Notification of WGESA.
Western_Ghats_ESA_Jt_VCLP_ATREE_290924-1.pdf (580.1 KB)