
Parliamentary committee on Western Ghats
Why is it in news?
- Parliamentry committee on western ghats.
What committee has observed?
- NO GO ZONES: Western Ghats could not be earmarked as ‘no-go’ zones due to State governments’ ‘insensitivity’.
- Local people grievances: The panel has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to constitute a committee to address the issues and grievances of local people.
- Monsoon floods: The recent monsoon floods in Kerala and parts of Karnataka should serve as alarm bells for the administrations in the States of Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- Categorisation of the Western Ghats: The panel had examined issues regarding the categorisation of the Western Ghats as ESA as per the recommendations of two committees led by Madhav Gadgil and K. Kasturirangan.
- The committee has observed that despite three draft notifications issued over four years for earmarking ESA, the six States could not be brought on board for action.
Western ghats
- The mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes.
- The site’s high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern.
- Moderating the tropical climate of the region, the site presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system on the planet.
