BENGALURU: After the state government expressed its opposition for the implementation of Kasturirangan report for the conservation of eco-sensitive Western Ghats region, organisations in the Malnad region have also opposed the same.
Under the aegis of Malnad Ulisi Vedike, demonstrations and seminars against the implementation of Kasturirangan report will be held during the course of the month. The state government had earlier — ahead of the deadline to submit recommendations regarding demarcations suggested in the report — disagreed with the report.
In a statement issued by the Vedike, they have opposed the decision of the report to declare almost half of the 44,478 square kilometres of the Western Ghats in the state as eco-sensitive area (ESA).
“If the report is implemented without any changes, residents in 1,573 villages inside the ESA will have to face hardships, as the report imposes several restrictions on people living in the area,” the statement read.
The report prohibits the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, prevents mono-culture of crops such as coffee and cardamom, and stops any developmental projects such as roads, water supply lines etc to provide basic facilities for the dwellers in the region, it said.
“Several laws have already been enacted upon for the conservation of nature, such as the Forest (Conservation) Act, Wildlife (Conservation) Act and others. So, it is not necessary to implement another report for the conservation of Western Ghats,” he said.
What the report recommends:
Complete ban on mining in eco-sensitive areas of Western Ghats.
Bans development of townships over 20,000 sqm area.
Industries, power stations banned.
Regulating agricultural practices.