WESTERN GHATS

15.06.2024

WESTERN GHATS

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

           Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa, three of the six states traversed by the Western Ghats, have requested a reduction in the extent of the proposed eco-sensitive areas (ESAs) to allow for development works.

Key Point

           These states have communicated their concerns to an expert panel appointed by the Centre, which is tasked with finalizing a draft notification on the matter.

About Western Ghats :

• It is also known as Sahyadri Hills in Maharashtra and Sahya Parvatham in Kerala, forming a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula.
• They are not traditional mountains but the faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau.
• The region is rich in geological diversity, with rocks such as Basalt, charnockites, granite gneiss, khondalites, leptynite, metamorphic gneisses, and occurrences of crystalline limestone, iron ore, dolerites, and anorthosites.
• Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s eight ‘hotspots’ of biological diversity.
• Home to 30% of India’s flora and fauna species.
• Rivers flowing westward include the Periyar, Bharathappuzha, Netravati, Sharavathi, and Mandovi.
• Rivers flowing eastward include the major rivers Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
• Encompasses six states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
• The Nilgiri ranges in Karnataka connect to the Shevaroys and Tirumala range, linking the Western Ghats to the Eastern Ghats.
• The highest peak is Anamudi, standing at 2,695 meters.

Committees for Western Ghats:

• Gadgil Committee (2011): Also known as the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), it recommended that all of the Western Ghats be declared as the Ecological Sensitive Areas (ESA) with only limited development allowed in graded zones.
• Kasturirangan Committee (2013): It sought to balance the development and environment protection in contrast to the system proposed by the Gadgil report.

○The Kasturirangan committee recommended that instead of the total area of Western Ghats, only 37% of the total area should be brought under ESA and a complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining be imposed in ESA.

                                                  Source: Indian Express

Ques :- With reference to the Western Ghats, consider the following statements:

1. It is also known as Sahyadri Hills in Kerala and Sahya Parvatham in Maharashtra

2. They are not traditional mountains but the faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau.

3. The highest peak is Anamudi, standing at 2,695 meters.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C.All three

D.None

Answer B