Udupi (Karnataka), Sep 18 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday assured residents of the Malnad and coastal regions that the state government would discuss with officials and take a decision on conducting a physical survey of areas covered under the Kasturirangan report.
Shivakumar made the assurance while interacting with local residents at Hebri in Udupi district on the merits and demerits of the Kasturirangan report.
Local organisations and elected representatives had urged the state government to conduct a physical survey and consider the Kerala model while deciding on the implementation of the report.
“You have explained the Kasturirangan report and the ecologically sensitive areas and brought the problems you are facing to my attention. We have to send our decision to the Centre by September 27. We have come here so that your opinion becomes our opinion. You have suggested the Kerala model and recommended an expert committee. We have accepted your suggestions and will discuss these issues in the Karnataka Assembly,” Shivakumar said.
He added that the state government had convened a three-day special session to discuss issues concerning farmers, drought and the Kasturirangan report.
The report would be discussed on the first day of the Assembly session, he said.
“I will also visit Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru and listen to the sentiments of the people there,” he added.
On the Forest Rights Act, Shivakumar said there was a provision prescribing different time limits, including 25 years for some and 75 years for others.
The state government would consider taking a decision to prescribe a uniform 25-year limit and send it to the Centre, he added.
He said that he had instructed Forest Department officials not to cause difficulties to people residing in forest areas.
“We will not do politics based on emotions. We are concerned about your lives,” Shivakumar added.
He said that important decisions had been taken regarding fisheries and that representatives from the region had sought a zonal management plan and a taluk hospital in Hebri.
The state government would discuss these demands with officials and take decisions in the coming days, he added.
“I do not want to make announcements before you and then forget about them. I will do whatever service I can with the opportunity I have received. I will come to Udupi in the coming days and discuss the issues with elected representatives,” he said.
Shivakumar added that the people of Tulu Nadu region were an asset to the country and assured them that the state government would continue to seek their suggestions.
He said a special Cabinet meeting had been held in Mangaluru after discussions with legislators and representatives of all parties from the region.
“Of the 60 decisions taken at the meeting, 40 were related to the coastal districts,” he added.
He also referred to the Cabinet decision to recognise Tulu as the second additional administrative language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
He said the state government had given priority to tourism in the coastal and Malnad regions and approved several development measures to attract investment and prevent migration.
Representatives of various organisations and elected representatives urged the state government to constitute an expert committee and conduct a physical survey before taking further decisions on the Kasturirangan report.
They said the report covers around 13,000 square km in Kerala and around 20,000 square km in Karnataka.
According to them, Kerala conducted a physical survey through a high-level officials’ committee, separating inhabited areas from forest areas and reducing the area covered by the report to around 9,000 square km.
They claimed that a similar exercise in Karnataka could potentially exclude around 5,000 square km from the report’s coverage.
The representatives said the Kasturirangan committee had relied on satellite and GPS-based surveys and had not conducted a physical survey.
They also raised concerns over the inclusion of areas with more than 100 residents and regions with less than 20 per cent protected forest cover.
They said the report had created apprehension among residents that they could eventually be displaced and urged the state government to create awareness about its actual provisions.
The representatives urged the state government to conduct a physical survey and place its findings before the Centre, the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal to resolve the concerns.
It can be noted that the Kasturirangan Committee was set up by the Union government in 2012 under the chairmanship of K. Kasturirangan to examine the recommendations of the Gadgil Committee on protecting the Western Ghats.
The committee recommended identifying parts of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).
It proposed restrictions on certain activities such as mining, quarrying, large construction projects and some industrial activities in ESA areas.
The recommendations cover parts of six states: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
In Karnataka, the recommendations have faced opposition from residents, farmers and local organisations, who have raised concerns about restrictions on agriculture, development and property rights
–IANS
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