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.




Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 2nd Jan 2019