Farmers, elected representatives urge State govt. to oppose ESA draft notification, make suggestions

Farmers and elected officials in Shivamogga district expressed strong opposition to a draft notification that proposes to designate areas of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs). During an interaction with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, they shared their concerns and offered suggestions to address the challenges faced by the Malnad region's agriculture community.

B.R. Jayanth, a senior Congress leader, warned that the proposed ESA rules could force people to leave the region due to existing difficulties. He reminded that both Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had failed to resolve issues faced by dam project displaced residents ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections. Rajendra Kammadagi, a farmer, argued against conducting a physical survey of human habitations and cultivated areas within the ESA, suggesting that the Malnad population should instead seek special constitutional status.

Agricultural economist Prakash Kammaradi proposed discussing the drought faced by the Malnad region during the legislature's special session. Congress leader Araga Jnanendra, Tirthahalli MLA, called for a physical survey to identify cultivated lands and human settlements, urging the Centre to exclude such areas from ESA designation.

School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa, along with several other representatives, also participated in the discussion, highlighting the long-standing opposition to the draft notification since 2014.