Overview
The Kerala government is pushing to keep villages and farms out of the ESA that the centre plans for the Western Ghats. Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said the state will submit objections before the September 24, 2026 deadline.
Key Developments
- The centre’s seventh draft ESA notification (issued July 25, 2026) covers 9,993.7 sq. km across 131 villages in Kerala.
- Kerala aims to remove more than 30 villages completely from the draft ESA list.
- For the remaining villages, the state will seek exclusion of all inhabited areas and agricultural land from ESA limits.
- High‑level consultations involve the Chief Minister, Ministers of Environment, Agriculture, Revenue, Forests, and senior officials.
- Farmers’ concerns and scientific data were presented to the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Committee convened by the Chief Minister.
Important Facts
The draft ESA notification is a Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change instrument. It provides a 60‑day window for states and stakeholders to raise objections. Kerala’s response will be filed within this window, aiming to shape the final ESA boundaries so that they do not harm livelihoods or food production.
Exam Relevance
This issue touches on several GS papers. GS‑2 (Polity) because it involves centre‑state relations, federalism, and the role of state ministries. GS‑3 (Environment) as it deals with biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and the legal framework for protected areas. Understanding the ESA concept helps answer questions on environmental policy, while the Western Ghats case illustrates the balance between ecological protection and human development.
Way Forward
Kerala will compile scientific evidence, farmer testimonies, and legal arguments to submit a detailed reply before September 24, 2026. The state will continue dialogue with the centre and the Expert Committee to ensure that any final ESA map safeguards both ecology and livelihoods. Monitoring the outcome will be crucial for future policy debates on protected‑area designations across India.