Centre Issues Fresh Draft Notification for Western Ghats
The Centre has issued a fresh draft notification to declare over 56,000 square kilometres of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) to conserve its rich biodiversity.
Sat, 03 Aug 2024
The Centre has issued a fresh draft notification to declare over 56,000 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). The affected states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. This move aims to conserve the rich biodiversity of the region.
The Western Ghats is a unique ecosystem that is home to many endangered species. The ESA designation will help protect the region from human activities such as mining, deforestation, and infrastructure development that can harm the environment. The notification is now open for public feedback before it is finalized.
Centre issues fresh draft notification to declare over 56 thousand 800 square kilometres of Western Ghats across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 3, 2024
These states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu.
The Western Ghats stretches over 1,600 km along the western edge of the Indian Peninsula, forming a mountain range parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. It is a critical habitat for many plant and animal species found only in this region. The ESA designation will ensure that any development projects in the area must meet strict environmental safeguards.
The Centre's move comes as a welcome step towards preserving the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats. As the public feedback period begins, it remains to be seen what changes or suggestions emerge from stakeholders and experts. One thing is certain – the importance of conservation efforts cannot be overstated in this region.
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