Madhav Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel)

Madhav Gadgil Committee was formed in 2011 to study the ecology of Western-Ghats and also recommend measures to conserve it. The committee submitted its report in 2011.

Important Recommendations: It recommended dividing the entire Western Ghats into 3 zones – Ecologically Sensitive Zone 1 (ESZ 1), Ecologically Sensitive Zone 2 (ESZ 2) and Ecologically Sensitive Zone 3 (ESZ 3). The division would be at the level of taluka.

• No dams or large scale storage were permitted in ESZ 1, Special economic zones be not permitted in either zones, new hill stations be not allowed and the conversion of public lands to private lands be forbidden.
• New Building code be developed which includes inter-alia eco-friendly building material and construction methods, minimizing the use of steel, cement, and sand, providing water harvesting methods, non-conventional energy and waste treatment. The application or detailing of the framework would be done by local authorities to suit local conditions.
• Local authorities must be given the responsibility for handling of hazardous, toxic and bio-medical wastes.
• Other major recommendations included – promotion of organic agricultural practices, effective implementation of Forest Rights Act, illegal mining must be banned and existing mining activities be phased out in 5 years, etc.