Gadgil recommendation
The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) or Gadgil Committee:
Report has designated the entire Western ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)
142 talukas in the Western Ghats divided into Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) 1, 2 and 3
ESZ-1 being of high priority, almost all developmental activities (mining, thermal power plants etc) were restricted in it
No new large dams to be permitted in Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1
Wants present system of governance of the environment to be changed to bottom to top approach – from Gram sabhas- rather than a top to bottom approach
It recommended constitution of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA), as a statutory authority under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, with the powers under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Rangan recommendations:
The Kasturirangan committee was constituted to examine the WGEEP report. It was a 10 member high-level working group (HLWG), headed by Kasturirangan:
Instead of the total area of Western Ghats, only 37% (60,000 sq. km.) of the total area to be brought under ESA
Complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESA
Current mining areas in the ESA should be phased out within the next five years, or at the time of expiry of mining lease, whichever is earlier
No thermal power be allowed and hydropower projects be allowed only after detailed study
Exclusion of inhabited regions and plantations from the purview of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs)
123 villages fall under the ESA purview
The power is vested with the bureaucrats and forest officials and not with gram sabhas
GADGIL VS RANGAN
Suggested almost 75% of the ghats to be put under various levels of restrictions
Wanted a Western Ghats Authority to be the final arbiter of development activities in the region.
Wanted a complete ban on mining in Western ghats
Wanted a ban on development
Wants a ban on hydroelectric projects
Recommended 37% area for protection
Disagreed with the Gadgil report on a centralized authority
Recommended complete ban on mining and current mining activities should be phased out
Banned development of any township or construction over the size of 20,000 square metres in the ESA zone
Did not recommended a ban on hydroelectric projects in the zone
Govt versus Kasturirangan
The Kasturirangan panel used remote sensing and aerial survey methods for zonal demarcation of land in Western Ghats. The usage of such techniques, without examining the ground reality, has caused many errors in the report
Allegation that farmers would get evicted if the Kasturirangan Committee report is implemented
Wrong methods saw inclusion of villages under Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) though there were only rubber plantations and no forest land
