The Karnataka Assembly has begun a special discussion on the Kasturirangan report and the Centre’s latest proposal to classify large parts of the Western Ghats as an Environmentally Sensitive Area, amid opposition from the state government and concerns about its effect on farmers and future development.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda clarified that the three-day sitting should not be called a separate special session. He said it was a special discussion held as part of the ongoing Monsoon session, accepting the Opposition’s objection to the earlier procedural description.
The clarification followed a heated exchange in the Assembly over the report and its implications for residents and farmers in the Western Ghats. The government said the discussion was intended to address public concerns and allow members to debate the issue before the state finalises its position.
The Union government issued its seventh draft notification on July 27, proposing to declare 56,000 square kilometres across six states as an Environmentally Sensitive Area. The draft gives stakeholders 60 days to file objections. Karnataka has repeatedly rejected earlier draft notifications linked to the Kasturirangan report.
Under the latest proposal, 20,668 square kilometres in Karnataka would fall within the proposed ESA. The area covers 33 taluks and 1,449 villages across 10 districts: Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Udupi.
The state government has said the proposal could adversely affect farmers’ livelihoods and future development. The Assembly discussion is expected to examine the concerns of residents, farmers and other stakeholders before Karnataka takes a final position on the draft notification. The government has not accepted the Centre’s proposal as final and has indicated that the views raised during the proceedings will be considered.
The discussion is also taking place as Karnataka deals with widespread drought. According to the report, 124 taluks have so far been declared drought-hit, while assessments are continuing in other areas. The overlap between drought conditions and the proposed ecological restrictions adds urgency to the debate over how land use, livelihoods and environmental protection should be managed in the state’s Western Ghats districts.
The Monsoon session had been adjourned sine die on August 24, three days before its scheduled conclusion on August 27, following disruptions by the BJP. The ruling side said the current sitting was intended to take up pending public issues and was not the start of a new legislative session. Gowda said the government would take its position on the Kasturirangan report after hearing members and stakeholders.
