Karnataka Rejects Kasturirangan Report

Summary: Karnataka's Rejection of Kasturirangan Report on Western Ghats

1. Legislative Action:

   • Date: September 22, Karnataka Legislature unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the K. Kasturirangan Committee report on the Western Ghats.

2. Background of the Report:

   • The seventh draft by the Ministry of Environment, Ecology, and Climate Change was published on July 27, to declare parts of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
   • Previous drafts have been rejected multiple times since 2014 due to concerns regarding livelihoods and developmental impacts.

3. Geographical Extent:

   • The Western Ghats is recognized as an ecological hotspot by UNESCO, covering 1.64 lakh square kilometers.
   • The Kasturirangan Committee proposed declaring 59,940 sq. km as ESA, involving 4,156 villages across six states: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

4. Karnataka's Situation:

   • Karnataka would have the largest ESA area (20,668 sq. km across 1,576 villages).
   • Currently, the notified area is adjusted to 56,825 sq. km following ground surveys, impacting the number of villages included.

5. Environmental Regulations Proposed:

   • Activities prohibited in the ESA include mining, quarrying, and large industrial setups.
   • Infrastructure projects within 10 km of the ESA would require stringent environmental clearances under the EIA Notification, 2006.
   • Recommendations also included financial incentives for sustainable development and the establishment of a monitoring center.

6. Debate and Concerns:

   • Dispute over the extent of area to be declared ESA and concerns over the economic impact on agriculture and local livelihoods.
   • The Karnataka government maintained that the ESA should only encompass notified forests and adequately address land use categories.
   • Misinformation regarding restrictions on housing and agriculture activities has intensified local anxiety.

7. Judicial and Administrative Responses:

   • The Karnataka Legislature has called for a year for a physical survey to reassess the ESA boundaries, emphasizing the need for a transparent examination of stakeholder interests.
   • A high-level committee, headed by a retired judge, will be established to address shortcomings in the Kasturirangan report.

8. Previous Committee Reports:

   • The Gadgil Committee proposed categorizing the entire Western Ghats as ESA covering approximately 1.29 lakh sq. km, while the Kasturirangan Committee suggested only about 60,000 sq. km.

9. Government and Legal Framework:

   • The ongoing discussion involves constitutional protections related to environmental conservation, with the focus on balancing ecological protection and socio-economic sustainability.
   • Karnataka is advocating for methodologies used in Kerala, which involved physical verification processes for ESA designations.

Overall, Karnataka's rejection of the Kasturirangan report illustrates the complex interplay between environmental policy, local livelihoods, and government accountability in managing ecologically sensitive regions.