Bengaluru, Sep 22 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the state government would conduct a village and survey-number-level physical verification of areas covered by the Kasturirangan report.
Addressing the Assembly, Shivakumar said the government was committed both to protecting forests and the environment, besides safeguarding farmers and local residents from displacement and harassment.
The seventh draft, based on the Kasturirangan report, was issued by the Union government on July 27, 2026, giving 60 days for objections. Karnataka has repeatedly rejected the Centre’s draft notifications. The latest draft proposes to declare 56,000 sq km across six states as an Environmentally Sensitive Area.
In Karnataka, 20,668 sq km covering 33 taluks and 1,449 villages in 10 districts — Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Udupi — falls under its scope.
“Everyone believes that the forests, rivers and water sources of the Western Ghats must be protected. But people have protected these areas for generations. They should not face difficulties. This is the commitment of our government, and all the MLAs are also committed to it,” he said.
Shivakumar said the state had been communicating its objections and suggestions on successive draft notifications issued by the Centre since 2014, including in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
He said he had personally interacted with farmers, horticulturists, tribals, local families, people’s representatives and activists in the affected regions and received their representations. He also cited large gatherings and padayatras held against the proposed restrictions in various areas.
“There should be a local inspection at the village and survey-number level. It was clear to me today that everyone’s position is that the notification as it stands should not be accepted without such an inspection,” he said.
The chief minister said the government would not allow farmers or local families to be displaced and would also ensure that people living in the region were not harassed by forest officials.
“My clear position is that no farmer should be displaced,” Shivakumar said.
He said the government would protect agricultural and horticultural activities, houses, roads, hospitals, schools, drinking water facilities and electricity infrastructure while ensuring the protection of forests.
At the same time, Shivakumar cautioned people against encroaching on forest land or hunting wildlife, saying advances in technology had made forest monitoring more effective.
“Our forest department can identify where people are going and has installed cameras. They can also track animal movement,” he said, urging people to surrender guns used for hunting.
The CM said the government had given people time to surrender such guns and warned that otherwise police action could follow.
“Please surrender them; you do not need them. Let us see how many people come forward,” he said.
He said satellite-based mapping could not always distinguish between agricultural land, forest areas and private property, reinforcing the need for physical verification.
“It is true that when you look from above, every place appears green in the forest. You cannot distinguish between agricultural land, forest and private land,” Shivakumar said.
He said the state would conduct its own village-level survey through a government team before taking up the matter with the Centre.
The chief minister also referred to difficulties arising from deemed forests, social forestry areas, Bagair Hukum land (farmers cultivating in government land without permission), land regularisation claims and pending judicial cases.
“We need to discuss what decisions have to be taken and what amendments to the law may be required. We can sit and discuss this later,” he said.
Shivakumar said he would convene discussions involving the revenue, forest and tribal affairs departments to examine pending claims under the Forest Rights Act and other land-related issues.
He also said the state needed detailed maps identifying wildlife corridors, water routes, plantations, human settlements, agricultural areas and infrastructure, along with village population and land-use details.
“It is our responsibility to protect houses, agricultural land, horticulture, schools, hospitals, roads, drinking water facilities and electric poles,” he said.
The CM said a high-level committee, a scientific survey and legal examination would be required before the state submits its detailed report to the Centre.
He also supported the proposal for an all-party delegation to Delhi to take up the issue with the Union government.
“I am ready to lead an all-party delegation of people’s representatives to the central government,” Shivakumar said, adding that the delegation could meet the prime minister and union minister concerned.
He urged MPs from Karnataka to jointly pursue the issue in Parliament and said the matter should not be politicised.
Shivakumar said Karnataka had significant ecological and wildlife wealth that needed to be preserved.
“We are not enemies of the environment; we are lovers of the environment. At the same time, we should not cause difficulties to the lives of farmers. That is my clear view,” he said.
The chief minister said the government would continue consultations with affected communities and examine the legal and administrative issues before finalising its approach to the Centre. PTI GMS GMS KH
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