The committee was setup to study the recommendations made by Madhav Gadgil Committee in 2013. It submitted its observations and recommendations in the same year.
Important Recommendations/Observations: The committee recommended only 37% of the Western Ghats as Economically Sensitive Areas (ESA) and done away with the 3-level categorization by Gadgil Committee. It emphasized that only ESA area needs special protection as rest is ‘cultural landscape inhabited by people.
It stuck with the recommendation of phasing out mining in 5-year period. Although with fewer regulations and less harsh guidelines. It recommended High-resolution map, delimiting ecologically sensitive areas, down to each village settlement, must ....
