Kerala asks centre to cut Western Ghats ESA to 8,590.69 sq km of forest land

Kerala has formally asked the centre to restrict the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area to 8,590.69 square kilometres of forest land. Special Secretary M.G. Rajamanickam placed the state’s recommendations before the centre on Thursday on behalf of the government, Environment Minister Sunny Joseph said. The state wants the ESA reduced from the draft size of 9,993.7 sq km to the new figure and the number of villages covered cut from 131 to 98. Populated areas, farmlands and plantations are to be excluded entirely, with 23 villages in Idukki, four in Kottayam, two in Thiruvananthapuram and one each in Wayanad and Palakkad removed from the list. The Congress‑led UDF government will move a resolution seeking this restriction when the assembly reconvenes. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is ready to lead a delegation to New Delhi if needed. Kerala notes that all ESA notifications issued between 2014 and July 2026 have been drafts, and the seventh draft released on July 27, 2026 did not accept the state’s proposed changes. The state’s forest cover makes up 29.15% of its total area, and officials say the added legal burden could hurt development, agriculture and daily life. Earlier, the 2013 K. Kasturirangan Committee had recommended 13,108 sq km covering 123 villages, sparking protests. A later Oommen V. Oommen committee study led to a draft reducing the area to 9,993.7 sq km, of which 9,107 sq km is forest and 886.7 sq km non‑forest. The deadline for submitting Kerala’s recommendations ends on Friday.