Dr. Madhav Gadgil report

Dr. Madhav Gadgil report

Why in news

• Renowned Indian ecologist and environmentalist Dr. Madhav Gadgil passed away on January 7, 2026.

Report Highlights

• The Panel: The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), headed by ecologist Madhav Gadgil, submitted its report to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in August 2011.
• Recommendation: The report recommended designating the entire Western Ghats region as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), which would have covered a vast geographical portion of Karnataka.

Zoning & Target Regions

• Target Region in Karnataka: The recommendations applied to the Ghats stretching across districts including Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysore, and Chamarajanagar.
• Zoning Mechanism: It proposed a graded classification system—ESZ-1 (High Priority), ESZ-2, and ESZ-3—based on ecological sensitivity. A significant number of taluks in Karnataka were categorized as ESZ-1, implying the strictest level of protection.

Key Restrictions Proposed

• Infrastructure: A complete ban on the construction of new large dams, specifically recommending against the Gundia Hydroelectric Project in Karnataka.
• Mining: An indefinite moratorium on new mining licenses in ESZ-1 and ESZ-2, with a proposal to phase out existing mines in ESZ-1 by 2016.
• Industry: A ban on polluting industries (Red and Orange category) in ESZ-1 and ESZ-2.

Governance & Response

• Governance Model: It proposed a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) to oversee the region and emphasized a “bottom-up” approach, granting Gram Sabhas (local village councils) the power to veto development projects.
• State Response: The Karnataka government (along with Kerala and Goa) strongly opposed the report, arguing it would hinder development, power generation, and agriculture. This opposition led to the formation of the Kasturirangan Committee to review these recommendations.

Additional information

Sanjay Kumar Committee:

• Formed to review state objections on ESA demarcations and validate proposed exclusions.
• Will conduct field visits to verify if demands for village exclusions from ESA listings are justified.
• Seeks to finalize the ESA status for villages, restricting activities harmful to biodiversity.