Western Ghats

Timeline

1. 27 Jul2026
   Environment

   MoEFCC issues seventh draft notification for 56,825 sq km Western Ghats ESA¹²³

   The Environment Ministry issued its seventh draft ESA notification for the Western Ghats on 27 July 2026, covering about 56,825.7 sq km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The draft bars new mining, quarrying, sand mining, thermal power projects and red-category industries; objections were invited until 25 September 2026. Karnataka's legislature rejected the draft in its present form and sought a one-year deferral for ground surveys.

   • The Environment Ministry issued its seventh draft ESA notification for the Western Ghats on 27 July 2026, covering about 56,825.7 sq km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
   • The draft bars new mining, quarrying, sand mining, thermal power projects and red-category industries; objections were invited until 25 September 2026
   • Karnataka's legislature rejected the draft in its present form and sought a one-year deferral for ground surveys
2. 22 Jun2026
   Environment

   Centre moves to finalise Western Ghats ESA, starting with Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra⁴⁵

   Reports from 22-24 June 2026 said the Environment Ministry planned to notify Western Ghats eco-sensitive areas state by state, starting with Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra, where broad agreement has been reached. Kerala and Karnataka still have reservations. A later seventh draft was issued in July.

   • Reported 22 June 2026: Centre likely to notify ESAs in Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra first
   • Centre to notify state by state, not all six states together
   • Kerala wants its area reduced; Karnataka questions the exercise
   • Goa's 2024 draft covered 108 villages; the state suggested dropping 21
3. 7 Jan2026
   Obituaries

   Ecologist Madhav Gadgil dies at 83⁶⁷⁸

   Madhav Gadgil, ecologist who chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, died on 7 January aged 83.

   • Died on the night of 7 January 2026 in Pune, aged 83
   • Chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel constituted by the environment ministry in 2010 (report 2011)
   • Founded the Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc Bengaluru; UN Champions of the Earth award in 2024

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Sources

1. Down To Earth
2. ThePrint
3. Deccan Herald
4. Herald Goa
5. The Goan
6. Scroll.in
7. DT Next
8. Mongabay India