Here is Why Karnataka Rejected the Kasturirangan Report on the Western Ghats - Frontline

Karnataka Rejects Kasturirangan Report

The Karnataka government rejected the Kasturirangan report's recommendation to designate 37% of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs), impacting 20,668 sq km in the state.

Reasons for Rejection

• Opposition from legislators representing 10 hilly districts concerned about developmental restrictions in 1,576 villages.
• Concerns about impacts on livelihoods dependent on plantation and agricultural activities.
• Existing restrictions from the forest department, further limiting development activities.

While a consultation proposed reducing the ESA to 16,114 sq km and offered an economic package, the opposition remained firm across political lines.

Conflicting Reports and Perspectives

The Kasturirangan report followed the Gadgil report, recommending an even larger area (75%) as ESA. Environmentalists express dismay, citing the need for protection against threats from infrastructural projects like the Sharavathi Pumped Storage Project. Conversely, others argue that implementing the report would hinder development and unjustly affect local communities, with natural disasters potentially caused by other factors.

Other States' Responses

Kerala sought to exclude residential areas from ESA zones. Other states also responded to similar notifications with rejections or counter-proposals.

Post-Wayanad Landslides

Despite the Wayanad landslides, leading some to advocate for implementing the report, the Karnataka government's actions demonstrate a prioritization of development concerns over ecological considerations. While a task force aims to recover encroached forest land, this process is slow due to local political opposition.