Chikkamagaluru (Karnataka), Sept 20 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has assured farmers in the Malnad region that the state government would protect their interests amid concerns over the implementation of the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats ecologically sensitive areas.
He also said the government would consider necessary legal amendments in the state’s interest and take steps to address farmers’ concerns.
The seventh draft declaring large swathes in the Western Ghats as an eco-sensitive area, based on the Kasturirangan report, was issued by the Union government on July 27, 2026, allowing 60 days to file objections.
The state has repeatedly rejected the Centre’s draft notifications. The seventh draft notification proposes to declare 56,000 sq km of area across six states as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA).
In Karnataka, 20,668 sq km of area, covering 33 taluks and 1,449 villages across 10 districts (Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi), falls under the ESA scope. This will adversely affect farmers’ livelihoods and future development.
“You have drawn attention to the problems faced by farmers in this region, including those related to ecologically sensitive zones. I will do whatever I can to help you and will try to bring in necessary legal amendments in the interest of the state,” Shivakumar said.
Addressing a public meeting at Balehonnur on the Kasturirangan report, he said the government would consider suggestions including constituting a high-level committee and conducting a physical survey along the lines of Kerala.
He said a special Assembly session has been convened for three days from Monday to discuss the Kasturirangan report and drought, and that he had come to Balehonnur to seek the views of farmers and people’s representatives before taking a decision.
The chief minister said his government would take steps to dispose of pending applications relating to land rights and assured farmers that those already cultivating land would not be disturbed.
He, however, cautioned against fresh encroachments, saying the government could not permit new ones.
“I have instructed the Forest Department that farmers who are already cultivating land should be protected. No one should undertake fresh encroachment. Farmers should not be troubled in any manner and we will provide protection in the coming days,” he said.
On the Kasturirangan report, he said the government would discuss the matter with Union ministers and, if necessary, take an all-party delegation to the Centre.
Shivakumar announced that cabinet meetings would be held in Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga to discuss local issues in the coming days.
“Even if we cannot solve all your problems, we will take steps to address several issues, including pensions and sites,” he said.
He said the state government spends about Rs 1 lakh crore annually on the poor and farmers, including Rs 53,000 crore on guarantee schemes and around Rs 20,000 crore a year on providing free electricity to agricultural pump sets.
Referring to the cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru on Friday, the CM said the government had formulated a tourism policy aimed at promoting development in both the coastal and Malnad (Ghats) regions.
The policy seeks to attract investment, create employment and curb migration from the regions, he said.
On criticism from the opposition, Shivakumar said criticism was part of democracy and that his government would take it into account.
“I do not do politics based on emotions. I will work for your livelihood,” he said, accusing the opposition of giving priority to politics.
He said his government would not allow disruptions during the coming Assembly session and reiterated his intention to take all sections along.
Shivakumar said 124 taluks had so far been declared drought-hit and assessment was continuing in other areas.
He said another list of drought-hit taluks would be released in the days ahead and the special Assembly session would discuss both the drought situation and the Kasturirangan report.
Earlier, leaders from different political parties and representatives of various organisations highlighted what they described as shortcomings in the Kasturirangan report and the problems its implementation could cause in the region.
They said farmers in the region were already facing difficulties relating to forest-related restrictions and expressed concern over the proposed ecologically sensitive areas.
They pointed out that 138 villages in Chikkamagaluru district and 1,449 villages across Karnataka had been notified under the eco-sensitive areas, the CMO said in a release.
The leaders said several areas had already been brought under protected areas, including the Kudremukh National Park, Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, and claimed that adequate compensation had not been provided in all cases of rehabilitation.
They called for a physical survey similar to the one conducted in Kerala, saying such an exercise could help distinguish agricultural and inhabited areas from forests.
They also sought recognition of the Malnad-coastal belt as a special agricultural zone and a separate allocation of water, arguing that the region is the source of several major rivers of Karnataka.
They also urged the chief minister to convene an all-party meeting with MPs and said a similar meeting should be held with all-party leaders in the presence of the Union Forest Minister. PTI KSU ROH
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