Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Priyanka Gandhi Flags Western Ghats ESA Livelihood Concerns
The government has proposed rules to protect parts of the Western Ghats.
Some villages, homes and farmland in Kerala may fall inside the proposed protected area.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said this could affect people’s livelihoods and homes.
She said the Congress and state government would protect those people.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said Kerala would ask the central government to remove inhabited areas and Cardamom Hill Reserve regions.
Officials are also preparing a detailed map and response.
Kerala says it wants residential and agricultural areas excluded.
The proposal is meant to balance environmental protection with development.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area draft notification an “issue” for Kerala.
She said Congress and the state government would protect affected livelihoods, habitations and residents.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said Kerala would propose excluding inhabited areas and Cardamom Hill Reserve regions.
The government is seeking to exclude residential and agricultural areas across about 131 villages and 9,993 square kilometres.
The Kasturirangan Committee recommended designating 37 percent of the Western Ghats across six states as an Ecologically Sensitive Area.
- Who
- Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan, Agriculture Minister T Siddique and the Kerala government.
- What
- Kerala is preparing objections and a revised proposal concerning the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area draft notification.
- When
- Priyanka Gandhi spoke on September 24; the draft notification was issued on July 25, 2026, according to the report.
- Where
- Wayanad, Kerala, within the Western Ghats region.
- Why
- The state says it wants to protect livelihoods, homes, residential areas and agricultural land while addressing environmental protection requirements.
Livelihood and Development Concerns
Environmental Conservation
Scope of the protected area
Livelihood and Development Concerns
Kerala wants inhabited areas, residential zones, agricultural land and Cardamom Hill Reserve regions excluded or removed from the proposed limits.
Environmental Conservation
The Kasturirangan Committee recommended the designation to balance environmental conservation with development across the Western Ghats.
State response to the notification
Livelihood and Development Concerns
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Kerala officials say the party and state government will protect affected livelihoods and habitations.
Environmental Conservation
The draft notification is being considered as part of a broader effort to identify and protect ecologically sensitive parts of the Western Ghats.
- Draft notification
- Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area notification
- Kerala areas proposed for exclusion
- About 131 villages and 9,993 square kilometres
- State proposal
- Exclude inhabited areas and Cardamom Hill Reserve regions
- Deadline
- September 24 for objections and suggestions, according to the report
- Committee recommendation
- Declare 37 percent of the Western Ghats—about 60,000 square kilometres—as an Ecologically Sensitive Area
- States covered
- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
- Other state reservations
- Congress-ruled Karnataka has also expressed reservations about the notification