Karnataka to Oppose Centre’s Seventh Kasturirangan Draft; One-Day Special Assembly Session Planned
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will oppose the Centre’s seventh draft notification concerning the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Committee on declaring areas of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said.
Shivakumar said the state government proposed to convene a one-day special session of the Karnataka legislature to discuss the notification and the concerns raised by people living in the affected regions.
The Chief Minister maintained that Karnataka had repeatedly communicated its objections to the Centre and would continue to protect the interests of residents whose lives and livelihoods could be affected by the proposed classification.
The Kasturirangan Committee’s recommendations seek to identify portions of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive areas and regulate activities considered environmentally damaging in those regions.
The proposed notification has remained contentious in Karnataka, with concerns being raised about its possible implications for settlements, agriculture, infrastructure and other livelihood activities in the Western Ghats districts.
Shivakumar said the state was committed to protecting the environment but stressed that conservation measures must also take into account the interests of people who have lived in the region for generations.
The proposed special session is expected to enable legislators to discuss the draft notification and formulate Karnataka’s position before it is communicated to the Union government.
The Chief Minister also said ministers would be directed to visit their assigned districts at least twice every month to review drought-management measures and the implementation of government programmes.
He announced that the government was considering the establishment of a Prajaseva department to improve the delivery of public services.
Shivakumar said local body elections were expected to be conducted by November after completion of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
He also outlined plans to distribute 50,000 housing sites in every district and highlighted Bengaluru’s water security, lake conservation and the creation of more than 5,000 acres of new parks among the government’s priorities.
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