Narrowed posture: On Karnataka and the Kasturirangan Report
Karnataka must not reject the entire framework of ecologically sensitive areas
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Context
The Karnataka Assembly has unanimously rejected the recommendations of the concerning the , citing concerns over livelihoods, agriculture, and the use of outdated satellite data. This rejection complicates the Centre's efforts to notify across the six states, especially as other states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are moving closer to agreements or state-specific notifications. Karnataka, holding the largest share of the proposed ESAs, faces increasing pressure to present a viable alternative rather than simply rejecting the framework.
UPSC Perspectives
Environmental
The are a global biodiversity hotspot and critical to India's ecological balance, influencing the monsoon and acting as the origin of major peninsular rivers like the , , and . The , formulated as a more pragmatic alternative to the stricter , recommended designating 37% of the as . Within these ESAs, activities with high environmental impact, such as mining, quarrying, and setting up red-category industries, are banned or strictly regulated under the . UPSC often focuses on the tension between conservation and development; this issue highlights how conservation policies must integrate ground realities. The reluctance of states stems from the fear that designating large areas as ESAs will stymie economic growth and displace communities. Candidates should understand the criteria used for ESA classification (like species richness and endemism) and the mechanisms for enforcing these protections.
Governance
This issue is a classic example of cooperative federalism challenges. Environmental protection is on the (Entry 17A: Forests, Entry 17B: Protection of Wild Animals and Birds), meaning both the Centre and States can legislate, but implementation heavily relies on state machinery. The Centre's strategy to allow state-by-state notification of ESAs is an attempt to bypass a unified deadlock, pressuring holdout states like Karnataka. However, piecemeal notification can undermine the ecological contiguity of the . The conflict also underscores the importance of ground-truthing (verifying satellite data with physical surveys) in policy formulation. Karnataka's argument that the 2012 remote-sensing data inaccurately labels human settlements and farmlands as sensitive areas highlights the need for participatory governance and accurate data in environmental regulation. For Mains, analyze how centralized environmental directives often face resistance at the local level due to perceived threats to livelihoods.
Geographical
The traverse six states: , , , , , and . The geographical continuity of the Ghats is crucial; a fragmented conservation approach where some states notify ESAs and others do not could lead to 'leakage'—where environmentally damaging activities simply move to the unprotected states. Karnataka's position is particularly critical because it holds the largest area of the proposed ESAs. The state's demand for an alternative map reflects the geographical complexity of differentiating between natural and human-dominated landscapes in a densely populated region. UPSC Geography questions frequently test the physical features, biodiversity, and significance of the . Understanding the specific concerns of Karnataka—such as the recommendation that entire revenue villages be classified as ESAs even if only 20% of their area is sensitive—is essential for mapping the socio-economic geography of the region.