THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is preparing to renew its demand to exclude around 30 villages from the proposed Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), citing the presence of large human settlements and agricultural communities in these areas.

The issue has gained fresh attention following the Centre's latest draft notification on the Western Ghats ESA. The notification covers 9,993.7 sq km across 131 villages in 12 districts of Kerala. Kerala has been seeking a reduction in the proposed ESA boundary, particularly to keep densely populated areas, agricultural land and established settlements outside the restrictions.

According to the latest developments, the state wants the Centre to reconsider the inclusion of villages where a significant portion of the land is already occupied by residents and agricultural activities. The state has previously proposed bringing the ESA area down to around 8,590.69 sq km.

Focus on populated and agricultural areas

Kerala's position has consistently been that the ESA should primarily cover ecologically important forest areas, while inhabited regions and cultivated land should be protected from unnecessary restrictions.

The latest draft notification itself records that Kerala's proposed ESA covers 9,993.7 sq km, including about 9,107 sq km of forest area and 886.7 sq km of non-forest area. The final boundary is yet to be determined and will take into account recommendations from the state government, stakeholder views and the ESA Expert Committee.

The state is particularly concerned that restrictions applicable to ESA areas could affect the day-to-day activities of people living in the high ranges, including farming, construction of houses and other livelihood-related activities.

Implications for Kerala's high-range tourism

The Western Ghats ESA debate is particularly important for Kerala's tourism sector because several of the state's best-known destinations are located in or around the Western Ghats.

Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon, Wayanad, Ponmudi, Nelliyampathy and other high-range destinations depend heavily on the region's forests, mountains, plantations and rural communities.

At the same time, stronger environmental protection could help preserve the natural landscapes that attract tourists to Kerala. The challenge for policymakers will therefore be to balance environmental conservation with the needs of residents, farmers, tourism businesses and local economies.

The Centre's July 27, 2026 draft notification covers a total of 56,825.7 sq km of the Western Ghats across six states. Kerala's share is 9,993.7 sq km. Stakeholders have been allowed to submit objections and suggestions before the notification is finalised.

The proposed exclusion of villages is therefore likely to remain an important issue in Kerala's Western Ghats policy discussions, particularly in the high-range districts where conservation requirements and human settlements exist side by side.