Western Ghats

Karnataka's 'green cess' on water: Dy CM, minister contradict each other

Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said that he has proposed a Rs 3 cess on the water bills to save the ghats by building a corpus fund meant for the conservation of the ecosystem

Site visits essential for environment clearance in Western Ghats: Ministry

A panel of the Union Environment Ministry has said that site visits should be conducted "in toto" before granting environmental clearances to pumped storage projects (PSPs) in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats. During a meeting of the ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on September 27, the member secretary stated that the ministry had granted Terms of Reference (ToR) -- which outlines the environmental studies a project must complete before applying for clearance -- to approximately 15 projects in the Western Ghats. "The EAC reviewed the Terms of Reference recommended to the PSPs proposed to be located in Western Ghats... Given the region's high environmental sensitivity, the EAC, in previous meetings, recommended site visits by sub-committee members to several pumped storage projects. "These projects are located in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats and a huge forest area is also involved. The EAC emphasised that, prior to granting environmental clearance or ...

Wayanad tragedy: Who is responsible for the heart-breaking landslides?

In this age of climate change, the lessons from Wayanad are clear: Learn and change, or perish

Wayanad landslides: Search, rescue ops enter Day 5, death toll at 308

The death toll in the massive landslides that occurred on July 30 in Chooralmala and Mundakkai of Wayanad stands at 308 as of Friday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said

Centre issues fresh ESA draft for Western Ghats following Wayanad disaster

The Centre has issued a fresh draft notification to declare over 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states, including 13 villages in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad, an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), inviting suggestions and objections within 60 days. The notification, issued on July 31, came a day after a series of landslides claimed over 300 lives in Wayanad district. Scientists from Kerala and beyond attribute the disaster to a deadly mix of forest cover loss, mining in the fragile terrain and climate change. The draft notification proposes to declare 9,993.7 sq km in Kerala, including 13 villages in two talukas of the landslide-hit district, as ecologically sensitive. These villages are Periya, Thirunelli, Thondernad, Thrissilery, Kidanganad and Noolpuzha in Mananthavady taluka, and Achooranam, Chundel, Kottappadi, Kunnathidavaka, Pozhuthana, Thariyod and Vellarimala in Vythiri taluka. The July 30 landslides affected Mundakkai, Chooralmala, and Attamal

Centre delayed in giving sensitive area tag to protect Western Ghats: Cong

The Congress on Friday accused the Centre of delay in declaring the ecologically sensitive area' tag for a portion of the Western Ghats and claimed that it is directly responsible for the human tragedy in Wayanad. The opposition party's attack came after the Centre issued a fresh draft notification to declare more than 56,800 square kilometres of the Western Ghats across six states, including 13 villages in Kerala's landslide-hit Wayanad, an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), inviting suggestions and objections within 60 days. The notification, issued on July 31, came a day after a series of landslides claimed more than 300 lives in Wayanad district. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled that on August 5, 2019, during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, he had raised the Issue of the protection of the Western Ghats. Only on July 31, 2024, following the Wayanad catastrophe, does the Union government seem to have finally moved to declare some 57,000 squ

Ban on plying small boats in UP due to rising water level of Ganges river

Although rains have subsided over the last couple of weeks, water from the mountains is now slowly starting to show effects in the plains.

Heavy rainfall expected over Konkan, Ghat areas of Maharashtra: IMD

As per the official statement, the impact of the incessant rainfall would cause several issues such as water logging and inundation over most parts of low-lying areas and river banks

NGT cracks the whip to prevent ecological damage to TN's Western Ghat

The National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone has directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board to pass appropriate orders in a matter related to unauthorised brick kilns exploiting the Western Ghat region leading to ecological damage. On its own, the tribunal had initiated action on the issue. Since there was no provision to regulate the activities of such units and to prevent ecological damage, the NGT-SZ had taken congnizance based on a Tamil daily's reportage on April 14, 2021. Subsequently, proceedings were initiated by the state Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) as well as the mining authorities. Following a hearing on the matter, in its order on Tuesday, the tribunal referred to the Board's report on determination of compensation. Environmental compensation was fixed for the brick kiln units in five specific villages as per a Central Pollution Control Board formula. It was to recover compensation for the damages caused to the environment by the brick kiln units under the "Pol

Kasturirangan notification on hold till new panel submits report: CM Bommai

The Centre has assured that it will not implement the notification on Kasturirangan report on declaring eco-sensitive zones in Western Ghats until the recently set up committee submits its report

Western Ghats as eco-sensitive zone: Experts slam those opposing move

Karnataka is prominently in opposition to the implementation of Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats. The Cabinet has decided to oppose the report. A three-day bandh has been planned from July 27

Uncertainty over Western Ghats as Kasturirangan Committee draft delayed

Even after a decade of the Gadgil report and Kasturirangan Committee report for the protection of the Western Ghats, implementation of the report is still a far cry from the actual circumstances.

As Kerala floods claim 20 lives, eco expert says it's an 'invited disaster'

These disasters were caused due to higher economic activities like rock quarrying, construction of new buildings and roads and destruction of natural forest, says Madhav Gadgil

Heavy rains unleash havoc in west, south India; IMD says more to come

A total of 129 people have died in rain-related incidents in Maharashtra in 48 hours, a senior state disaster management official said on Friday

Maharashtra committed to protect, conserve Western Ghats: Uddhav Thackeray

The Maharashtra government is committed to protect and conserve the biodiversity of Western Ghats, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday.

Letter to BS: Protect Western Ghats from turning into a concrete jungle

Already, many parts of the Ghats have suffered due to urbanisation and no more damage to them should be permitted even for rail links.

Manmade crisis in God's Own Country

Book review of Flood and Fury: Ecological Devastation In the Western Ghats

How large-scale activitiy is eroding the ecosystem in central western ghats

Perennial streams were found in regions that have greater than 70% of forest cover, showing the link between ecology and hydrology with land use

Govt mulls 56,825-sq km eco-sensitive zone in Western Ghats

Proposed area is 20,175 sq km less than originally recommended in 2011