Who Will Speak for the Western Ghats?

Between 2013 and 2025, I travelled repeatedly by road from Coimbatore to Kerala. Over these years, subtle yet persistent changes in the Western Ghats landscape became increasingly apparent. Hills that once appeared continuous gradually began to show signs of cutting and excavation. In several locations, entire sections of hills had been removed, largely to supply raw materials for cement production and other construction activities.

This was clearly not an isolated phenomenon confined to a single route or district. Across large stretches of the Western Ghats, mining and quarrying, both legal and illegal, have expanded aggressively, often accompanied by intimidation, violence, and even loss of life when local communities, activists, or whistle-blowers attempt to expose unlawful operations, illegal expansion of licensed quarries, or extraction far beyond what is permitted by law.

These changes did not occur suddenly, nor were they confined to a single district or state. Instead, they accumulated over time. Similar concerns were raised regarding the Aravalli range in northern India, where sustained public engagement eventually led to decisive policy interventions. In contrast, despite mounting evidence of ecological degradation in the Western Ghats, meaningful collective action has remained limited. Two major expert reports, the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (Gadgil Committee, 2011) and the subsequent Kasturirangan Committee report (2013), which significantly diluted the original recommendations, were submitted more than a decade ago. Yet critical questions remain unanswered: Were comprehensive and enforceable policies formulated? And were effective actions taken to protect this ecologically fragile region?

As a society that often prides itself on being educated and environmentally aware, our response has largely been one of indifference. Instead of supporting the science-based recommendations of the Gadgil Report, both governments and sections of the population living in and around the Western Ghats have either ignored or actively opposed them. Short-term economic interests and immediate developmental gains have repeatedly been prioritised over long-term ecological stability. This stark contrast between the trajectories of the Aravallis and the Western Ghats raises fundamental questions about how India values and governs its ecologically fragile mountain systems.

The Aravalli Decision: Evidence That Environmental Governance Can Respond

The recent decision by the Government of India to halt new mining leases in the Aravalli range and expand protected zones marked an important intervention in environmental governance. The Aravallis, among the oldest mountain ranges in the world, had suffered extensive degradation due to mining for construction materials, leading to groundwater depletion, forest loss, and increased aridity.

This decision emerged after years of scientific studies, legal scrutiny, and public concern highlighting the long-term consequences of unregulated mining. It demonstrated that environmental limits can be recognised and acted upon when evidence is acknowledged, and public voices remain persistent. The Aravalli case now serves as an example of how fragile landscapes can be safeguarded when ecological considerations are given due priority.

This development invites a closer examination of the Western Ghats, a region of even greater ecological complexity and significance.

The Western Ghats: A System That Sustains Southern India

Stretching over 1,600 kilometres along the western edge of India, across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Kerala, and influencing parts of Tamil Nadu, the Western Ghats constitute one of India’s most important ecological regions. They play a critical role in monsoon circulation, regulate regional climate, and give rise to major river systems that support agriculture, drinking water supply, hydropower generation, and ecosystems across peninsular India.

The Western Ghats are recognised globally as a biodiversity hotspot, hosting a large number of endemic species. Beyond biodiversity, the hills, plateaus, forests, soils, and streams function together as a single ecological system. This system absorbs rainfall, releases water gradually, stabilises slopes, prevents erosion, and moderates extreme weather. Any disruption to this interconnected structure affects the stability of the entire region.

Mining in the Western Ghats: An Evolving Pattern of Extraction

Mining in the Western Ghats has not been uniform over time. Historically, the region experienced extensive extraction of metal ores such as iron ore, manganese, and bauxite, particularly in Goa, Karnataka, and parts of Maharashtra. These operations involved large open pits, removal of overburden, and disposal of mine waste, leaving long-term impacts on forests, rivers, and agricultural lands. Even where regulatory interventions have curtailed large-scale mining, the ecological consequences persist in the form of degraded landscapes and polluted water systems.

Laterite and bauxite mining has also occurred on hilltops and plateaus, which are ecologically sensitive landforms with unique vegetation and hydrological functions. Stripping these plateaus of soil and vegetation permanently alters their ability to store water and support biodiversity.

Granite and dimension stone mining has been another significant activity, supplying material for construction, flooring, monuments, and export. Although sometimes perceived as less intensive, granite quarrying involves blasting and mechanical cutting that destabilise slopes and generate dust and noise.

Sand mining from rivers originating in the Western Ghats has further affected the region’s ecological health. Excessive sand extraction alters riverbeds, lowers groundwater levels, and weakens riverbanks. In states such as Kerala, restrictions on river sand mining have indirectly increased dependence on hill quarries, intensifying pressure on the Ghats.

In recent decades, however, the most widespread form of extraction has been quarrying for cement production and construction materials. Limestone, laterite, granite, and crushed stone are extracted to meet growing demand driven by urbanisation and infrastructure development. Much of this activity is categorised as minor mineral mining, which often faces comparatively weaker environmental scrutiny. While individual quarries may appear small, their cumulative effect across the landscape is substantial.

Cumulative Impact: The Core Issue Often Ignored

A critical challenge in regulating mining in the Western Ghats is the failure to assess cumulative impacts. Environmental approvals are typically granted on a project-by-project basis, without evaluating how multiple quarries operating within the same hill system collectively affect slope stability, water flow, biodiversity, and disaster risk.

Over time, numerous small excavations fragment hill ranges, alter drainage networks, and reduce forest continuity. These cumulative changes weaken the resilience of the Western Ghats far more than any single project might suggest. The absence of comprehensive cumulative impact assessments remains a major gap in environmental governance.

Environmental Degradation Across Interconnected Systems

Mining and quarrying affect multiple ecological components simultaneously. Vegetation removal reduces habitat connectivity and affects wildlife movement. Soil compaction and excavation alter infiltration rates, increasing surface runoff and reducing groundwater recharge. Sediment from quarry sites enters streams and rivers, affecting water quality and aquatic life.

These impacts are not confined to quarry boundaries. Changes in one part of the system influence downstream areas, agricultural fields, reservoirs, and settlements. Over time, the capacity of the Western Ghats to regulate water and climate diminishes.

Climate Change and a Weakened Western Ghats System

The impacts of mining and quarrying in the Western Ghats are unfolding alongside increasing climate variability. Scientific evidence indicates that monsoon rainfall in the region is becoming more erratic, with longer dry spells interspersed with short periods of intense precipitation. Intact forested hill systems play a critical role in buffering such extremes by absorbing rainfall, stabilising soils, and releasing water gradually into river systems.

However, when hills are fragmented by quarrying and vegetation is removed, this buffering capacity is significantly reduced. Disturbed slopes generate rapid surface runoff instead of groundwater recharge, increasing flood risk during heavy rainfall while simultaneously reducing water availability during dry periods. In this context, mining does not merely degrade ecosystems; it actively amplifies climate-related risks, making both natural systems and human settlements more vulnerable.

Slope Stability, Landslides, and Disaster Risk

Several regions within the Western Ghats have experienced landslides and slope failures in recent years. While extreme rainfall linked to climate variability is an important factor, land-use changes have increased vulnerability. Quarrying weakens hill structures through blasting and excavation, while vegetation removal reduces soil binding.

When such altered slopes are exposed to intense monsoon rainfall, the likelihood of failure increases, particularly in areas close to human settlements and plantations. These risks underscore the need to consider mining not only as an environmental issue but also as a disaster risk factor.

Recent years have provided multiple reminders of the consequences of altered landscapes in the Western Ghats. Several districts in Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have experienced landslides and flash floods that resulted in loss of life, displacement of communities, and extensive damage to infrastructure. While extreme rainfall events have been a triggering factor, post-disaster assessments have repeatedly pointed to land-use changes, such as quarrying, road cutting, and deforestation, as contributors that increased slope instability and runoff.

These events underline the importance of viewing mining and infrastructure development not only through an environmental lens, but also through the framework of disaster risk reduction. Decisions taken in relatively small hill catchments can have far-reaching impacts during extreme weather events.

Health Impacts on Local Communities

Communities living near quarrying zones experience direct health impacts that often remain underreported. Dust generated from blasting, crushing, and transportation affects respiratory health, particularly among children and the elderly. Noise from continuous quarry operations contributes to stress and sleep disturbances. Alteration of water sources can lead to reduced access to clean drinking water, increasing health risks.

These impacts accumulate over time and disproportionately affect communities that have limited access to healthcare and alternative livelihoods.

Concerns regarding employment and livelihoods are often raised in discussions on regulating mining in the Western Ghats. It is important to recognise that many communities depend on quarrying and associated activities due to limited local economic alternatives. However, the long-term costs of environmental degradation, including declining agricultural productivity, water scarcity, health impacts, and disaster-related losses, often outweigh the short-term economic benefits of extraction.

Exploring livelihood transitions through ecological restoration, sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, local value-added forest produce, and nature-based tourism can provide more resilient and sustainable employment options. Integrating such alternatives into regional development planning is essential for ensuring that environmental protection does not come at the expense of social well-being.

Mine Closure and the Problem of Abandoned Landscapes

Another often overlooked issue is mine closure and post-mining restoration. Many quarry sites are abandoned without adequate rehabilitation. Open pits, unstable slopes, and water-filled depressions remain long after extraction ends, posing safety risks and preventing ecological recovery.

Restoration plans, where they exist, are frequently insufficient or poorly implemented. The lack of long-term monitoring allows degraded sites to persist as permanent scars on the landscape.

Legal Framework and Implementation Gaps

India has a comprehensive legal framework intended to regulate mining and protect forests and the environment. Laws such as the Forest Conservation Act, the Environment Protection Act, and the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification provide mechanisms to assess and regulate projects. Eco-Sensitive Zones around protected areas are meant to limit harmful activities.

However, enforcement remains uneven. Environmental impact assessments often underestimate risks, public consultations may not fully capture local concerns, and monitoring after approvals is limited. Institutions such as the National Green Tribunal have intervened in specific cases, but systemic implementation challenges persist.

Inter-State Implications of Degrading the Western Ghats

The Western Ghats span multiple states, and ecological damage in one region often affects another. Rivers originating in one state flow into others, carrying the consequences of upstream land-use changes. Changes in forest cover and hydrology influence rainfall distribution and water availability across state boundaries.

This inter-state nature of impacts highlights the need for coordinated governance rather than fragmented, state-level decision-making.

Learning from the Aravallis: A Policy Precedent

The protection extended to the Aravalli range demonstrates that it is possible to prioritise long-term ecological stability over short-term extraction. Applying similar principles to the Western Ghats would involve identifying strict no-mining zones, mandating cumulative impact assessments, strengthening monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring meaningful community participation.

Such measures do not imply halting development entirely but rather aligning development with ecological limits and long-term risk reduction.

Applying the Aravalli precedent to the Western Ghats would require moving beyond project-level clearances towards region-wide governance measures. Key steps could include identifying ecologically critical hill systems as strict no-mining zones, mandating cumulative impact assessments at the watershed or landscape scale, and strengthening independent scientific review of environmental clearances.

Equally important is the enforcement of robust mine-closure and restoration plans backed by financial guarantees, along with long-term monitoring to ensure ecological recovery. Given the inter-state nature of the Western Ghats, a coordinated institutional mechanism involving all concerned states would be necessary to manage ecological impacts that transcend administrative boundaries.

The Role of the Public and Civil Society

Public awareness and participation play a critical role in environmental governance. Transparent decision-making, informed public consultations, and access to environmental information can improve accountability. Support for science-based policies and constructive engagement with regulatory processes can help ensure that development decisions reflect ecological realities.

The Aravalli experience shows that sustained public engagement can influence policy outcomes.

            The changes observed in the Western Ghats over the past decade reflect a gradual but persistent transformation driven by mining and land-use pressures. Hills altered for cement production and construction may support immediate economic activity, but they simultaneously weaken ecological systems that underpin water security, climate regulation, public health, and disaster resilience.

The Western Ghats are not merely a source of raw materials; they are a foundational ecological system for southern India. The lesson from the Aravallis is clear: when ecological limits are recognised and defended through sustained public engagement, long-term stability can be preserved. It is time for the people to raise a similar collective voice for the Western Ghats, through public dialogue, civic action, and informed advocacy. Collective voices matter, and history shows they have the power to influence governance and reshape policy. Whether the Western Ghats remain a resilient life-support system or slide into fragmentation and hazard will ultimately depend on how strongly society chooses to speak for their protection today.