Pratidin
Environment and geographyCommittees2011

Madhav Gadgil Panel (WGEEP)

About 64% of the Western Ghats to be treated as ecologically sensitive.

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Proposed graded zoning with local participation.

Madhav Gadgil, who chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel.
Madhav Gadgil, who chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel. Syed Shiyaz Mirza, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Prelims

Quick recall

Who chaired the WGEEP?
Madhav Gadgil.
When did it report?
2011.
How much of the Ghats did it propose to protect?
About 64%.
How many zones did it propose?
Three ecologically sensitive zones.
What authority did it propose?
A Western Ghats Ecology Authority.
What replaced it?
The Kasturirangan Working Group (2013).

Asked before in UPSC

Recurring theme: Western Ghats conservation versus development

Mains
  1. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks

    Discuss how the contradiction between 'rapid infrastructure development' and 'disaster-risk reduction' in ecologically-sensitive areas of India can be managed, with suitable examples.

    The WGEEP's zoning of the Ghats into ecologically sensitive zones is the model for reconciling infrastructure with disaster-risk reduction.

  2. 2025 · GS3 · 15 marks

    Mineral resources are fundamental to the country's economy and these are exploited by mining. Why is mining considered an environmental hazard? Explain the remedial measures required to reduce the environmental hazard due to mining.

    The WGEEP recommended no new mining in the most sensitive zone and phasing out existing mines there.

  3. 2021 · GS1 · 10 marks

    Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats.

    Gadgil flagged quarrying, road cutting and land-use change as drivers of slope failure; Kerala's recent landslides revived the report.

  4. 2013 · GS1 · 5 marks

    Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats.

    Contrast natural causes with human-induced ones that the Gadgil panel linked to Western Ghats slopes.

Prelims
  1. 2016 · Prelims

    'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report', sometimes seen in the news, are related to (a) constitutional reforms (b) Ganga Action Plan (c) linking of rivers (d) protection of Western Ghats

    Direct Prelims question naming both Western Ghats reports.

The basics

Why it matters

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, chaired by Madhav Gadgil, reported in 2011 and proposed protecting about 64% of the Western Ghats with graded restrictions and strong local participation.

About 64%
Share of the Western Ghats proposed as ecologically sensitive
In three graded zones.

Three zones

Restrictions were graded by sensitivity.

Gadgil zoning
  1. 1ESZ 1Highest protection
  2. 2ESZ 2High protection
  3. 3ESZ 3Moderate protection
  4. 4AuthorityWestern Ghats Ecology Authority

You now know

  • Reported in 2011; chaired by Madhav Gadgil.
  • About 64% of the Ghats proposed as ecologically sensitive.
  • Three zones with graded restrictions.
  • Gram sabhas to play a central role; States rejected it as too strict.

Go deeper

In one line: Gadgil proposed strong, people-led protection for most of the Western Ghats.

Why it matters for UPSC

It is a core environment topic, often compared with Kasturirangan.

The core idea

Conservation works best when local communities decide, through the Gram sabha. The Ghats are a global Biodiversity hotspot.

Where to go next

In one line: Gadgil's report was rejected politically but is often recalled after disasters.

Criticism

Too restrictive, not enough consultation.

Revival

Floods and landslides in Kerala in 2018 and 2024 revived interest in its warnings. See Gram sabha and Biodiversity hotspot.

Where to go next

Gram sabha

Local decision-making

In one line: The gram sabha is the assembly of all voters in a village.

In Gadgil's model

It would decide local development and conservation.

Legal basis

Article 243A.

Where to go next

Gram sabha: every story that connects to it (2)

Biodiversity hotspot

Why the Ghats matter globally

In one line: A biodiversity hotspot is a region with many endemic species that has lost much of its habitat.

India

The Western Ghats, the Himalaya, Indo-Burma and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands) cover parts of India.

Criteria

At least 1,500 endemic vascular plants and 70% habitat lost.

Where to go next

Prelims-style quiz

  1. The Gadgil panel proposed protecting about:

    1. 50%
    2. 37%
    3. 80%
    4. 64%
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 64%. About 64%.

  2. Consider the following:
    1. The Gadgil panel gave gram sabhas a central role.
    2. It was accepted by all Western Ghats States.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: (a) 1 only. States rejected it.

  3. The Gadgil panel reported in:

    1. 2013
    2. 2009
    3. 2014
    4. 2011
    Show answer

    Answer: (d) 2011. 2011.

  4. The review of the Gadgil report was done by:

    1. Srikrishna
    2. Kasturirangan
    3. Sarkaria
    4. Punchhi
    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Kasturirangan. The Kasturirangan Working Group.

Syllabus

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