The order was passed on a petition filed to implement the recommendations of Madhav Gadgil-led Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report.
Gadgil Panel:
- In 2010, Union Environment Ministry set up the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel under ecologist Madhav Gadgil to recommend measures to protect the ecology and biodiversity of the Western Ghats. It submitted it report in 2011. Its key highlights are:
- According to it, Western Ghats included an area of 1,29,037 km2, running about 1.490 km from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu.
- It declared the entire Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). Within this area, it designated sub-regions as Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZ) I, II or III based on the threat.
- Its recommendations for ESA:
- Ban on cultivation of genetically modified in entire area; Phase-out of all chemical pesticides within five to eight years in ESZ I and ESZ II
- Strict regulation of tourism
- Plastic bags to be phased out in three years;
- No new special economic zones or hill stations to be allowed;
- Ban on diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes in ESZ I and II; No new dams in ESZ I; No new polluting industries in ESZ I and ESZ II areas;
- Setup a Western Ghats Ecology Authority to regulate these activities in the area.
- Its recommendations were opposed by the six concerned states. Subsequently Environment Ministry constituted a High-Level Working Group on Western Ghats under Kasturirangan to ‘examine’ the Gadgil Committee report which submitted its report in 2013.
