The committee was setup to study the recommendations made by Madhav Gadgil Committee in 2013. It submitted its observations and recommendations in the same year.
Important Recommendations/Observations
The committee recommended only 37% of the western ghats as Economically Sensitive Areas (ESA) and done away with the 3-level categorization by Gadgil committee. It emphasized that only ESA area needs special protection as rest is ‘cultural landscape inhabited by people.
It stuck with the recommendation of phasing out mining in 5-year period. Although with fewer regulations and less harsh guidelines.
It recommended High-resolution map, delimiting ecologically sensitive areas, down to each village settlement, must be put in the public domain so that people can take environment-friendly decisions.
The committee said that economic options (Businesses and Livelihood) should not be forbade (i.e. allowed to continue), but answer to protection of the Western Ghats lies in providing better incentives to move businesses / livelihoods towards greener and more sustainable practices”.
In short the committee reduced area under conservation, allowed businesses (in-fact called for promoting eco-tourism) and provided more power in the hands of local bureaucracy in allotting villages under ESA.
Shortcomings
The committee’s report was heavily criticized for being pro-industrialist and ignoring the plight of environment.
It was alleged that the promotion of eco-tourism would lead to more pollution and would exhaust water resources in the region thereby creating local distress.
The government accepted the recommendations and a total of 4156 villages form 6 states were categorized as Environmentally Sensitive Areas.
