Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Nov 16: The Karnataka government has decided to completely reject the draft notification based on the report by the high-level working group (HLWG) led by Dr Kasturirangan, which proposed designating the Western Ghats as an eco-sensitive zone. Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivasa Poojary assured the public that there is no reason for concern following this decision.
Poojary spoke at a meeting held at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Manipal on Saturday, November 16, which was organised to discuss the Kasturirangan report and its implications for eco-sensitive zones. He presided over the discussions and explained the state government’s stance on the matter.
He highlighted that implementing the Kasturirangan report could threaten local infrastructure such as electricity, roads, bridges, drinking water supply, housing, and other basic amenities, especially in the forest-fringe areas that are already impacted by the Forest Act and other policies of the forest department. Poojary expressed relief that the rejection of the draft notification would help mitigate these concerns for local residents.
While the central government has issued six notifications based on the Kasturirangan report to declare eco-sensitive zones, none of these have been implemented so far. Poojary emphasised that, if implemented in the future, the report’s provisions could cause significant difficulties for the local population.
He urged officials to communicate the concerns and challenges faced by residents to higher authorities.
Currently, the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) regulations maintain a one-kilometer buffer zone around protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries, requiring residents to seek prior approval from the ESZ monitoring committee for basic amenities.
Poojary called for more localised adjustments to streamline this approval process, which currently disrupts daily life.
Deputy Commissioner Dr K Vidya Kumari noted that while implementing government policies and laws is the responsibility of officials, the Karnataka government has categorically rejected the Kasturirangan report. She pointed out that, despite this rejection, any development activity within the eco-sensitive zone will still require approval from the ESZ monitoring committee to ensure environmental protection.
MLA A Kiran Kumar Kodgi stressed that any law or policy should be implemented only after thorough consultations with the affected residents and a comprehensive review of its pros and cons. He also called for precise information on the villages and survey numbers included in the one-kilometer buffer zone and recommended joint surveys by the revenue and forest departments to ensure proper demarcation of boundaries.
MLA Gururaj Shetty Gantihole echoed the need for careful examination of the potential hardships and benefits to residents before implementing any such report. He further suggested that officials should bring the challenges faced by forest-fringe residents to the attention of the central government or the Supreme Court, which has mandated the implementation of the Kasturirangan report.
The meeting was attended by Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal, additional deputy commissioner Mamatha Devi G S, Kudremukh Wildlife Division deputy forest officer Shivaram Babu M, district-level officials, tahsildars, taluk panchayat officers, and representatives from panchayats in the notified areas.