Karnataka CM Shivakumar Says Kasturirangan Report Could Threaten Livelihoods Across 10 Karnataka Districts
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday told the Legislative Assembly that implementing the Kasturirangan Committee report could have serious implications for the livelihoods of people living across 10 districts, particularly in the Western Ghats region.
Speaking during the Assembly debate on the report, Shivakumar said the proposed recommendations had created considerable concern among farmers and residents. He said the Western Ghats were the source of several rivers and cautioned against measures that could adversely affect communities dependent on agriculture and other local livelihoods.
Ahead of the Assembly session, Shivakumar had visited parts of the coastal and Malnad regions likely to be affected by the recommendations. During visits to Karkala, Tirthahalli, Sakleshpur and Balehonnur, he held discussions with residents and sought their views on the proposed implementation.
The Kasturirangan report identifies around 20,668 sq. km of Karnataka’s Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive, covering 1,449 villages.
Shivakumar said farmers and local representatives had put forward several suggestions during his consultations. These included rejecting the existing report, constituting a fresh committee and withdrawing the proposed Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ) classification. Some had also suggested adopting the Kerala model for managing ecologically sensitive areas.
Residents, he said, had also raised concerns over the inclusion of agricultural properties within the proposed boundaries. They questioned why privately owned farmland should be covered when environmental protection measures could instead focus on forest areas.
Other proposals included sending an all-party delegation to the Centre, submitting a detailed memorandum and adopting resolutions in both Houses of the State legislature. The possibility of seeking special provisions under Article 371 was also raised during the consultations.
The Centre has asked Karnataka to communicate its stand on the Kasturirangan report by September 27. Shivakumar said the Assembly discussion was aimed at safeguarding the State’s interests and building consensus on a resolution opposing the report.
Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy also presented a 12-page statement, reiterating the government’s position on protecting both the Western Ghats and the livelihoods of communities living in the region.
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