Question 89 from UPSC CSE 2016 - Environment

Question

The 'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report', sometimes seen in the news, are related to

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. protection of Western Ghats

Strategy: Recall the direct association between the Gadgil and Kasturirangan Committees and their primary environmental focus in India to identify the correct option.

Key Info: The 'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report' are directly related to the **protection of the Western Ghats**.

*   **Western Ghats:** A mountain range running parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's eight 'hottest hotspots' of biological diversity. It spans six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

*   **Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel - WGEEP):**
    *   Constituted in 2010 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) under the chairmanship of ecologist Madhav Gadgil.
    *   Its mandate was to assess the ecological status of the Western Ghats and suggest conservation measures.
    *   The report, submitted in 2011, recommended declaring the entire Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and categorized it into three zones (ESA 1, 2, 3) with varying levels of restrictions. It also proposed the establishment of a Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA).
    *   The recommendations were highly stringent and faced opposition from several states, industries, and local communities due to potential impact on development and livelihoods.

*   **Kasturirangan Committee (High-Level Working Group - HLWG):**
    *   Constituted in 2012 by MoEF under the chairmanship of Dr. K. Kasturirangan to examine the Gadgil Committee report and suggest a more holistic and acceptable approach.
    *   Its aim was to balance conservation imperatives with the developmental needs of the region.
    *   The report, submitted in 2013, recommended that only 37% of the total Western Ghats area be designated as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), as opposed to the much larger area suggested by the Gadgil report.
    *   It proposed a ban on certain activities within the ESA, including mining, quarrying, sand mining, thermal power plants, and highly polluting industries. It also suggested restrictions on large housing projects.
    *   The Kasturirangan report aimed for a middle ground, but also faced criticism for potentially diluting conservation efforts.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: constitutional reforms

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Ganga Action Plan

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: linking of rivers