WRONG MEANS FOR THE RIGHT ENDS? REFLECTIONS ON THE KASTURIRANGAN WORKING GROUP REPORT AND PLAUSIBLE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

This paper highlights certain issues - analytical and empirical-associated with the classification by the Kasturirangan Committee of the environmentally sensitive areas in the Western Ghats region and their recommendations for environmental protection of the same. By drawing from Amartya Sen’s critique of the Report by Brundtland Commission – Our Common Future - the paper makes the case for a pro-freedom and choice based approach to environmental sustainability and argues that the approach of the Ministry of Environment and Forests has the potential of straining the centre-state relations. Finally the paper draws the broad contours of a plausible way forward.