Protecting Western Ghats: K’taka seeks a ground survey, environmentalists back eco-zone
Karnataka wants the Kasturirangan report reviewed. Environmentalists say the proposed restrictions are aimed at mining and polluting industry.
The Karnataka Assembly unanimously approved a resolution on Tuesday, requesting a reassessment of the Kasturirangan report regarding ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. The report proposes designating 20,668 square kilometers of the Western Ghats in Karnataka as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), affecting 1,449 villages across 10 districts.
The opposition stems from concerns about the boundary of ecological protection and its impact on residents' farms, plantations, homes, and public facilities. Environmentalists argue that much of the land already has notified forest status, and the restrictions would mainly affect mining and highly polluting industries. The Center appointed ecologist Madhav Gadgil in 2010 to strengthen Western Ghats protection, followed by a high-level working group headed by K Kasturirangan in 2013.
The group's latest draft notification, issued in July, aims to regulate activities like mining, construction, and highly polluting industries within the proposed ESA. Karnataka's primary objection is the use of satellite data for boundary identification without a physical survey, potentially including agricultural and horticultural land in the ESA.
The state government emphasizes the need to address existing land disputes, such as Bagar Hukum claims and forest rights, before finalizing the ESA boundaries.
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