Western Ghats Land Use Row Erupts: UPASI Demands Clarity on Agricultural Exemption in Draft ESA Notification

UPASI, the United Planters' Association of Southern India, on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the draft Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification, pointing out a critical lack of clarity regarding agricultural land use. The industry body insisted that while the preamble of the notification states land can be used for agricultural purposes, this must be explicitly codified into the operative part of the notification to avoid legal ambiguity and ensure that farming activities are not inadvertently restricted.

The draft notification, which seeks to demarcate ecologically sensitive areas across the Western Ghats, has been a flashpoint between environmental conservation and agricultural interests. UPASI argues that the current wording leaves room for misinterpretation, potentially exposing planters to punitive action. The association has been vocal in previous consultations, emphasizing that the region's plantation economy—covering tea, coffee, rubber, and spices—is vital to local livelihoods and must be protected. Official sources indicate that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is reviewing feedback before finalizing the notification.

The outcome will have significant implications for thousands of farmers and plantation workers across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Environmental groups, however, caution that any dilution of the ESA provisions could undermine biodiversity conservation in one of the world's most critical ecological hotspots. The government is expected to hold further consultations with stakeholders before issuing the final notification, with a decision likely in the coming months.