Western ghats panel aims at 'acceptable formula' for ecologically sensitive area

The recent landslides in Wayanad have reignited calls for finalizing the long-pending Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification for the Western Ghats. Since 2011, consensus among the six affected states has been elusive. A new five-member committee, led by former forest director general Sanjay Kumar, is in the final stages of creating a framework emphasizing state acceptance, habitat preservation, and ecosystem services integration. The framework aims for a collaborative and constructive approach to ESA designation, with each exclusion request scrutinized. The committee's success hinges on overcoming significant public and political resistance.