High Exam Priority
Karnataka Assembly unanimously rejects Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas
25 September 2026
4 min read
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly has unanimously rejected the Kasturirangan Report concerning the demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas in the Western Ghats. Lawmakers raised serious concerns regarding outdated satellite data and the potential displacement of local farming communities.
Key Highlights
- The Karnataka Assembly unanimously repudiated the Kasturirangan Report, citing severe economic and livelihood concerns for residents of the Western Ghats region.
- Major grievances include the use of outdated remote-sensing and satellite data from 2012 to distinguish natural landscapes from human-dominated areas.
- Concerns were raised over the criteria placing an entire revenue village under an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) if at least 20% of its land is deemed sensitive.
- Bipartisan political opposition and local resistance have consistently stalled the implementation of the ESA framework in the state due to fears of mining bans and displacement.
Exam Quick Facts
Nodal Ministry / Dept
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Key Bodies
Karnataka Legislative Assembly, High Level Working Group (HLWG) chaired by K. Kasturirangan
Constitutional & Legal Context
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
Static GK Connection
The Western Ghats span across six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global biodiversity hotspot.