BENGALURU: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously resolved not to accept the seventh draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) issued by the Centre on July 27, 2026, under the Kasturirangan report, in its present form.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, said the Western Ghats were one of Karnataka’s most important natural assets and vital for biodiversity and ecological balance. The seventh draft notification covers around 20,668 sq km across 1,449 villages in 10 districts of Karnataka.
The Assembly said the notification had caused concern among local people as agricultural land, plantations, houses and public facilities had been included along with forest areas. It also objected to the boundaries being determined using satellite data without a joint physical survey or identification based on survey numbers.
The resolution said issues related to Bagar Hukum land, Forest Rights Act claims, deemed forests, land grants, appeals and pending court cases had not been adequately considered. It also questioned declaring an entire village as ESA merely because one-fifth of its area falls under forest cover, calling the approach unscientific.
The Assembly urged the Centre to include only notified forest areas and other forest land in the ESA, excluding granted lands, agricultural and plantation areas, human habitations and public-use areas.
It also sought consideration of Bagar Hukum, forest rights, deemed forest, land grants, appeals and pending judicial cases while finalising the boundaries.
The resolution called for a committee of experts to physically survey and identify forest boundaries, habitations, agricultural areas and ecologically sensitive areas on a survey-number basis.
The State also sought guidelines for alternative livelihood opportunities and financial assistance for farmers and workers who may be affected by ESA restrictions.
The resolution said the State Government would constitute a high-level committee headed by a retired judge. It would include revenue and forest officials, representatives of farmers and industries, and experts and scientists from academic institutions specialising in forests and environmental matters.
The committee will examine the shortcomings of the Kasturirangan report and suggest modifications. The State Government will also conduct a physical survey and demarcate the affected areas on a survey-number basis.
Karnataka will request the Centre to grant one year to complete the process and not finalise the notification concerning the State during this period.
After the committee submits its report, the Centre should hold detailed discussions with the State Government before taking a final decision on the ESA notification, the resolution said.
The State Government also decided to constitute gram panchayat-level committees comprising elected representatives to assist the state-level committee and facilitate local participation.
The resolution was adopted unanimously after the three-day special session of the Karnataka Legislature discussed the Kasturirangan report and concerns of people living in the Western Ghats.