Karnataka legislature asks the Centre to confine the Western Ghats ESA to notified forests

On 22 September 2026 the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the Western Ghats. It urges the Centre to confine the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) identified under the Kasturirangan report to notified forests only. The State has also asked for a year to carry out a physical survey.

The Union Environment Ministry's draft notification, issued on 27 July, proposes to declare 20,668 sq km of Karnataka's Western Ghats an ESA. This area covers 1,449 villages across 10 districts. The draft gave the State 60 days to file objections. The resolution says a high-level committee led by a retired judge will suggest corrections to the report.

The Kasturirangan group's report of 2013 proposed an ESA of about 37% of the Western Ghats, or 59,940 sq km across six States.

Why it matters for the exam

For UPSC, this fits Prelims (environment, ESAs, the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports), GS Paper 3 (conservation and environmental impact) and GS Paper 2 (Centre-State relations). For BPSC it belongs to Prelims general environment.

Revise what an ESA is, the law under which it is notified, and what activities it limits. Compare the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports on the Western Ghats. For Mains, the case can support an answer on how the Centre and the States share decisions on conservation, and on the balance between protecting forests and the needs of people who live in them.

Points for Prelims

• Resolution adopted unanimously by both Houses of the Karnataka legislature on 22 September 2026.
• Demand: confine the ESA to notified forests, and a year for a physical survey.
• Draft notification of 27 July: 20,668 sq km of Karnataka's Western Ghats, 1,449 villages, 10 districts.
• The State had 60 days to object.
• Kasturirangan report (2013): an ESA of about 37% of the Western Ghats, 59,940 sq km across six States.

Source: The Hindu, 22 September 2026.

Also reported by: Hindustan Times, 25 September 2026.