The Paschima Ghatta Samrakshana Horata Vedike on Tuesday flayed the Central and state governments for “trying to sideline the recommendations of various committees on the Western Ghats”.
K N Somashekar, a member of the forum, claimed that the circular released by the Centre on March 10 was a move to “appease the business interests of the investors” in the area. “The circular weakens and distorts the findings of the Dr K Kasturirangan Committee.”
He expressed suspicion over the urgency with which “developmental projects” are bring initiated and said the government’s stand on the Yettinahole project, costing more than `13 crore, is influenced by private lobbyists.
C Yathiraj, a member of ‘Save Democracy Forum’, said, “The Kasturirangan Committee was constituted to sideline the Gadgil Committee report. Now the government has no political will to implement either of them.” The forum has released a book in six languages highlighting the recommendations of the two committees.