Kasturirangan report threatens livelihoods: Karnataka Chief Minister

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar warned that the Kasturirangan Committee report could jeopardize the livelihoods of people in 10 districts of the state, even as he pledged to safeguard farmers and residents of the Western Ghats. In response to the report, Shivakumar said it had instilled "an atmosphere of fear" among farmers, citing the unscientific measures as a source of widespread anxiety about livelihoods.

Prior to the session, the Chief Minister had visited coastal and Malnad regions, which would be impacted by the report, and engaged with individuals in Karkala, Tirthahalli, Sakleshpur, and Balehonnur to understand their concerns. According to the Kasturirangan report, 20,668 sq. km of Karnataka's Western Ghats region has been designated as ecologically sensitive, encompassing 1,449 villages.

Shivakumar stated that residents and farmers had submitted various proposals during his consultations, including rejecting the report, forming a new committee, scrapping the Ecologically Sensitive Zone classification, and adopting the Keralam model. Concerns were raised about the inclusion of agricultural land in the proposed boundaries, with people questioning why buffer zones should be imposed on their agricultural lands when they should be limited to forest areas.

Shivakumar also mentioned suggestions to send an all-party delegation to the Centre, submit a memorandum, and pass resolutions in both Houses of the State legislature. Some representatives had even proposed seeking special status for the region through Article 371. The Centre has requested Karnataka to respond to the Kasturirangan report by September 27, and the State government has convened a discussion to protect Karnataka's interests and build consensus on a resolution opposing the report.

Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Ramalinga Reddy submitted a 12-page statement, reaffirming the government's commitment to safeguarding both the Western Ghats and the livelihoods of those residing in the region.