Centre releases 7th draft to protect 56,825 sq km of Western Ghats

The Indian government has issued its seventh draft notification to designate ecologically sensitive zones across the Western Ghats. The proposal seeks to bring 56,825 square kilometres spanning six states under protected status. Several states, particularly Kerala, have opposed earlier drafts citing concerns over the impact on local livelihoods. The latest version includes a phased implementation approach, which could help accelerate the process. Efforts to conserve the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region have been ongoing since 2011.