Why is it in the news?
→ Eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away; renewed attention on WGEEP (Gadgil Commission) recommendations.
→ His 2011 report continues to be cited during ecological disasters and landslides.
Category: Environment
Important Points
- WGEEP set up by MoEFCC in 2010; report submitted in 2011; chaired by Madhav Gadgil.
- Mandate: assess Western Ghats ecology and demarcate Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
- Recommended the entire Western Ghats (1,29,037 sq km) as ESA; classified into ESZ1, ESZ2, ESZ3.
- Proposed bans on GM crops, new SEZs, new hill stations.
- No new mining; phase-out of mines within 5 years in ESZ1 & ESZ2.
- Restrictions on new railways and large roads in ESZ1 & ESZ2.
- Proposed statutory Western Ghats Ecology Authority under Environment Protection Act, 1986 for six states.
- Emphasised Gram Sabha–led inclusive development.
- Faced opposition (Kerala, Maharashtra); report rejected by Centre.
- Kasturirangan HLWG (2013) proposed 56,825 sq km ESA with village-level demarcation.
- Gadgil founded Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc (1982); recipient of Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan.