CM Shivakumar writes to Centre, seeks review of Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has urged the Centre to reconsider the proposed eco-sensitive area (ESA) notification for the Western Ghats and correct errors in the state’s Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), while seeking relaxations for traditional fishing activities.

In a September 28 letter to Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, Shivakumar sought changes to both the Western Ghats ESA notification and the coastal zone regulations to reflect Karnataka’s ground realities.

The move comes days after the Karnataka Legislative Assembly unanimously rejected the seventh draft ESA notification, issued by the Centre based on the Kasturirangan report, in its present form.

20,668 sq km proposed as eco-sensitive area

The draft notification issued on July 27 proposes bringing around 20,668 sq km across 1,449 villages in 10 Karnataka districts under the ESA regime. The districts are Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Udupi.

Also read: Karnataka Assembly rejects Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats in present form

The state has objected to the satellite-based demarcation, arguing that it brings agricultural land, plantations, houses and public-use areas within the ESA along with forests.

The Assembly resolution called for a physical survey of the proposed areas, with village-wise and survey-number-wise identification of forests, agricultural land, plantations, residential areas and environmentally sensitive zones. The state has sought one year to complete the exercise.

Karnataka has also proposed a high-level committee headed by a retired judge, with representatives from the Revenue and Forest departments, farmers, industry, environmental experts, scientists and academic institutions. The committee would examine the Kasturirangan report and recommend changes.

The state has said issues relating to Bagair Hukum land, claims under the Forest Rights Act, deemed forests, land grants, appeals and court cases should also be considered before the ESA boundaries are finalised.

CRZ maps need ground verification

Shivakumar has also sought corrections to Karnataka’s approved CZMP, citing complaints from fishermen, residents, local bodies and elected representatives over inaccuracies in coastal maps.

He has proposed that the maps be checked survey-number-wise using revenue records, updated satellite imagery and ground verification.

Also read: Mekedatu is all about drinking water, not irrigation: Karnataka minister

The coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada have long-standing fishing communities, coastal agriculture and settlements. The state has argued that mapping errors should not affect the legal status of existing settlements, fishing activities or infrastructure.

Relaxations sought for traditional fishing

The Chief Minister has sought appropriate relaxations under the CRZ framework for activities linked to traditional fishing, including boat repairs, net-making, fish processing and the repair or reconstruction of traditional houses.

He has also sought the extension to Karnataka of certain CRZ relaxations available to Goa, while maintaining environmental safeguards.

At the same time, Shivakumar has said there should be no compromise in protecting CRZ-I areas such as mangroves, sand dunes and turtle nesting grounds.

Karnataka’s twin demands come amid a long-running debate over how environmental protection in the Western Ghats and coastal areas can be balanced with land rights, development and local livelihoods.

Kasturirangan report row over the years

The issue of identifying Eco-Sensitive Areas in the Western Ghats is not new. After the high-level working group headed by Kasturirangan submitted its report, the Union government issued draft notifications in several stages. The first draft notification was issued in 2014, followed by several revisions and re-issuances over the years.

The Kasturirangan committee was tasked with identifying ecologically important areas of the Western Ghats and strengthening conservation measures. However, in states across the Western Ghats, including Karnataka, there has been continued debate over the possible impact on people’s land, agriculture, development and livelihoods. The seventh draft now issued has once again brought the longstanding dispute to the fore.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Karnataka)