REPORTS ON

WESTERN GHATS

VISHNU C K
ROLL NO : 39
CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• WESTERN GHATS-IMPORTANCE
• MADHAV GADGIL COMMITTEE REPORT
• CRITICISM TO GADGIL REPORT
• KASTURIRANGAN COMMITTEE REPORT
• CRITICISM TO KASTURIRANGAN REPORT
• OOMMEN V OOMMEN COMMITTEE REPORT
• SUMMARY
• REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION
• Kerala is affected by flood two times recently.In this year
about 100 people(14/08/19)are dead due to landslides and
other flood related disasters.
• 10 out of 11 pockets which witnessed major landslides,and
where 91 quarries operated were,classified as Ecologically
Sesitive Zones.
• These areas are banned from mining and quarrying by
Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel also known as Madhav
Gadgil Committee.
• There are three major reports on Western Ghats Those are
1.Madhav Gadgil Report
2.Kasturirangan Report
3.Oommen V Oommen Report
 WESTERN GHATS-IMPORTANCE
• The Western Ghats is an extensive region spanning over six
states 44 districts and 142 taluks.
• Home of many endangered plants and animals (Biodiversity
Hotspot)including 13 National Parks and several wildlife
sanctuaries.
• Source of numerous rivers including Godavari, Krishna and
Cauvery-supplying water to six states or more.
 MADHAV GADGIL COMMITTEE REPORT
• Gadgil commission formally known as Western Ghats Ecology Expert
Panel named after its chairman Madhav Gadgil submitted the report
to the Government Of India on 31 April 2011

• GADGIL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Panel designated the entire hilly range as Ecogically Sensitive
Area(ESA).
2.Classified the 142 Taluks in the Western Ghats boundary into
Ecologically Sensitive Zones.
ESZ-1-(60%) High priority area, developmental activities
(Mining,thermal power plants etc.) were restricted.
No new dams on large scale like Athirappally be permitted in this
area
ESZ-2 -(15%)Existing mines could continue with a moratorium
on new licences.
ESZ-3 - (25%)Allow all developmental activities with precautions.
3. Present system of governance should be changed like bottom
to top approach(right from Gram sabha)
4.It recommended constitution of Western Ghats Ecology
Authority as statutory authority.
 CRITICISM TO GADGIL REPORT
• It was more environmental friendly and not in tune with
ground realities.
• Report is against dams which is used for power generation.
• Protests from sand mining and quarrying lobbies.
• Many mafias created fear among farmers that the Gadgil
report against them that they will lose livelihood.
 KASTURIRANGAN COMMITTEE REPORT
• Katurirangan committee report also called HLWG (10 Member High
Level Working Group)was constituted to examine Madhav Gadgil
Committee Report

• KASTURIRANGAN COMMITEE RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Only 37% (60000 square km) of the total area be
brought under Kasturirangan report.
2. A complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining.
3. Distinguished between cultural (58% occupied by
human settlements, agricultural field and
Plantations)and natural landscape(90%).
4. Current mining areas should be phased out within
next five years or at the time of expiry of mining lease.
5.No thermal power be allowed and hydropower projects
are allowed only after detailed study.
6. Red industries which are highly polluting strictly banned in
these areas.
7. Pro farmer recommendations-Exclusion of inhabited
regions and plantations.
8. it said 123 villages under the ESA purview.
 CRITICISM TO KASTURIRANGAN REPORT
• Used remote sensing and aerial survey methods for zonal
demarcation.
• Power is vested with the bureaucrats and forest officials not
with Gram sabhas.
• Mining and quarrying lobbies are expected to flourish,it will
be disastrous to environment.
 OOMMEN V OOMMEN COMMITTEE REPORT
• As people turned violent and started protests Kasturirangan
report.Sri.Ommen Chandy(former CM of Kerala) Set up an
expert committee to study the report Dr.Oommen V
Oommen(He was the chairman of Kerala Biodiversity Board)
as head.

• OOMMEN V OOMMEN COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

1.Committee recommended to make changes in the
clauses of Environmentally Fragile Land(EFL)
2.Committee adopted a satellite survey to determine
EFL and even plantatios and estates were included in it
3.Stopping land acquisition proceedings according
to the Katurirangan committee report.
4.Pro farmer recommendations-including exclusion of
inhabited region and plantations
5.A field survey should be held in places that the Madhav
Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports have identified as ESA
6.Farners should not be stopped from rearing hybrid varieties of
milking animals and the grace period is given to shift to
organic farming extended from five years to ten years.
7.Forest areas should be fenced to prevent the animals straying
into it.
 SUMMARY
• The Western Ghats perform important hydrological and
watershed functions. Destruction of Western Ghats is
dangerous and causes disasters.
• Gadgil report laid too much importance to the environment.
• Kasturirangan report was biased towards development.
• Oommen V Oommen report was pro-farmer(The report
mainly considered the opinion of farmers)
 REFERENCES
1.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livemint.com/news/india/damage
-to-
western-ghats-makes-kerala-floods-worse/amp-1565634396271.html
2.https://www.clearias.com/gadgil-report-kasturirangan-report-western-
ghats/
3.https://www.google.com/searchq=kerala+flood+man+sitting+in+home&c
lient=msopera-
miniandroid&channel=new&biw=343&bih=557&tbm=isch&ei=lRxYXbnHF5
S1rQHU9J-ACA&start=100&sa=N
4.https://www.google.com/search?q=jaisal+flood&client=ms-opera-mini-
android&channel=new&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj4leT
FnIrkAhUl63MBHZgaCfgQ_AUICCgD&biw=343&bih=557
5.https://www.google.com/search?q=noushad+flood&client=ms-opera-
mini-
android&channel=new&biw=343&bih=557&tbm=isch&ei=QB5YXcLkIoDez7
sPxrG_gA4&start=20&sa=N
THANK YOU