From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 7: Karnataka is filing its objection with the Centre over the Narendra Modi Government’s report on protection of Western Ghats as it would seriously affect the livelihood of local people and prevent developmental works being taken up in the region.

The Centre has notified the report of the Dr Kasturirangan panel for the third time after inviting objections from the concerned states -Gujarat, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala – twice but not giving serious consideration to the concerns expressed by the affected Karnataka.

The notification has drawn the ire of Karnataka as the state government has accused the Union government of ignoring its objections against some of the recommendations of the report.

According to the notification, about 20,0668 sq.km area in the state has been declared as Eco-sensitive Zone, which includes 1576 villages. 

The notification, if implemented in its present form, would not allow development works as change in land use would not be permitted. This would mean ban on construction of schools, hospitals or roads in these villages. The farmers in these villages cannot be given land rights and the existing plantations like Coffee and Tea or Cardamom in these will have to  go. 

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Karnataka’s Forest and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai accused the union government of betraying the people of Western Ghats and farmers of Karnataka. 

"The Union government has shown bias against Karnataka," Rai said pointing to the fact that the union government has dropped many villages from Eco-sensitive Zones in Kerala after the neighbouring state submitted its objections.

"We will file our objections for the third time soon and also lead an all-party delegation to meet the Prime Minister, if necessary, to protect the interest of these 1576 villages," Rai said.

When asked about Kerala submitting its objections through reports from Gram Sabhas based on Physical Surveying of the areas instead of doing it through the ministers based on Satellite Image based surveys, Rai said, Karnataka too had submitted its report after the spot visit by the officials. 

However, he was evasive on being asked whether it was done through Gram Sabhas as was done by Kerala.

Foul-play behind forest fires

About 100 hectares or 250 acres of forest has been destroyed in the recent forest fires in Bandipur, Kappatagudda and Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Wild Life Sanctuary, Ramanath Rai said.

The Forest department sees involvement of mining lobby and other vicious forces behind these forest fires. 

"We have ordered a CID probe in this background to find the real cause for these fires," Rai said. 

"The chances of accidental fire causing such havoc so frequently is very remote. We have reasons to believe foul play behind these fires," he said denying allegations of lapses in preparations to prevent and fight forest fires by the Forest department.