Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that the proposed implementation of the Kasturirangan Committee report could threaten the livelihoods of people in 10 districts of Karnataka, even as he reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to protecting the livelihoods of farmers and residents of the Western Ghats.
Making a statement during the debate on the report, Mr. Shivakumar said its recommendations had created “an atmosphere of fear” among farmers. “More than six rivers originate and flow through the Western Ghats. The proposal of unscientific measures has caused widespread anxiety regarding people’s livelihoods,” he said.
Before attending the session, Mr. Shivakumar had toured the coastal and Malnad regions, which would be affected by the report, and had held meetings with people in Karkala, Tirthahalli, Sakleshpur and Balehonnur and heard their concerns.
According to the Kasturirangan report, 20,668 sq. km of Karnataka’s Western Ghats region has been identified as ecologically sensitive, covering 1449 villages.
Many suggestions
Mr. Shivakumar said people and farmers had made several suggestions during his consultations. “Farmers have sought rejection of the report and have demanded that a new committee be constituted. They have also urged that the Ecologically Sensitive Zone classification be scrapped and the Keralam model adopted,” he said.
The Chief Minister said residents had questioned the inclusion of agricultural land within the proposed boundaries. “People want to know why boundaries are being fixed on their agricultural lands when the buffer zone should be restricted to forest areas. They simply want their properties and livelihoods to remain undisturbed,” he said.
Other suggestions included sending an all-party delegation to the Centre, submitting a memorandum, and passing resolutions in both Houses of the State legislature. Some representatives had also suggested seeking special status for the region through Article 371, he said.
By September 27
The Centre has asked Karnataka to convey its decision on the Kasturirangan report by September 27. The State government has convened the discussion with the objective of protecting Karnataka’s interests and building consensus on a resolution opposing the report, Mr. Shivakumar said.
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy also made a 12-page statement, reiterating that the government was committed to protecting both the Western Ghats and the livelihoods of the people living in the region.
