BENGALURU: A discussion on the implementation of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats was organised here in the city by Citizens for Democracy, a forum. About 100 people including elected representatives, economists, farmers and various stakeholders took part.
Former minister Vishveswara Hegde Kageri said people in some areas in the Western Ghats living there for generations need development. Economist B M Kumaraswamy said development in the ghat area is good but also expressed concern over the damage to the ecology.
Citizens for Democracy coordinator Aparna Patwardhan said the general opinion from the discussion was that the report should be bridge the gap between development, rights of forest dwellers and farmers and the ecologically sensitive area.
She said the state government should file a response to the report before the Supreme Court in April.