The landslide in Maharashtra's Raigad district has once again brought attention to the Dr. Madhav Gadgil report on conserving the Western Ghats. The Gadgil report recommended classifying 64% of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) and banning almost all developmental activities in ESZ 1.
The Kasturirangan panel, however, recommended designating only 37% of the Western Ghats as ESA and allowing certain commercial activities in orange and green categories.
The landslide in Raigad district is a reminder of the need to protect the Western Ghats, which is a biodiversity hotspot and home to many endangered species. The government should take the Gadgil report seriously and implement its recommendations in order to conserve this important ecosystem.
Some key points about the Western Ghats:
- The Western Ghats is a 1,600-km-long mountain chain running along India's western coast.
- UNESCO has accorded the Western Ghats World Heritage status.
- It spans six Indian states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
- The Ghats are home to 325 globally threatened species of flora, fauna, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
- Karnataka contains about 60 percent of the entire Western Ghats.
Landslides are a natural hazard that can be triggered by a number of factors, including heavy rainfall, earthquakes, snow melting, and undercutting of slopes due to flooding. India is one of the top five landslide-prone countries globally, with at least one death per 100 sq km annually due to landslides.
The landslide in Raigad district is a tragedy that has claimed the lives of many people. It is a reminder of the need to take steps to protect the Western Ghats and to mitigate the risks of landslides in this region.