SC asks to file counter-affidavit to plea to protect Western Ghats

Tags: National National News

The Supreme Court on March 18 directed the Environment Ministry to file its counter affidavit on the petition filed by minor M Kavya, a resident of Nilgiris.

An overview of the news

• The petition sought judicial intervention to save the Western Ghats from destruction.

• The petition is pending for the last two years after the apex court issued notice in 2020.

About Western Ghats

• The Western Ghats are also known as the Sahyadri Hills.

• It is a mountain range that covers an area of 160,000 km2.

• The entire range of hills from Tapi to Kanyakumari is known as the Western Ghats. 

• The Western Ghats is one of the four global biodiversity hotspots in India.

• The Western Ghats are made up of a range of mountains in the states of Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

• It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Anamudi peak in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats.

• According to UNESCO, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas.