Fresh fears in Western Ghats as Centre issues seventh ESZ draft
The Centre's seventh draft declaring large Western Ghats areas as eco-sensitive zones has rekindled resident concerns, with 60 days given for objections.
Residents across the Western Ghats are once again on edge after the Union government released the seventh draft notification that proposes to designate large swathes of the region as eco-sensitive zones (ESZs). The draft, issued on July 27, 2026, is based on the recommendations of the Kasturirangan committee report and provides a 60-day window for the public to file objections.
The notification has revived longstanding anxieties among local communities, who fear that the new restrictions could disrupt their livelihoods, land use, and daily life. The Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot running parallel to India's western coast, has been at the centre of a decades-long debate between conservation imperatives and developmental needs.
The latest draft is part of a continuing administrative process that has seen multiple iterations over the years. Each version has attempted to balance ecological protection with the concerns of residents, yet the recurring drafts have kept uncertainty alive for those living within the proposed zones.
With the objection window now open, affected stakeholders have until late September to submit their responses to the Union government. The outcome of this round will determine whether the long-pending notification finally moves towards implementation or faces further revision.