Karnataka Rejects Western Ghats Protection Report

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that the state government will reject the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats. The report recommended declaring 37% of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area. The final decision will be taken after discussions with Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that the state government has decided to reject the Kasturirangan report concerning the Western Ghats. A final decision will be made after consulting with Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.

The report, led by former ISRO chairman K Kasturirangan, proposed designating 37 percent of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), totaling around 60,000 square kilometers, with approximately 21,000 square kilometers in Karnataka. The report recommends prohibitions on mining, quarrying, the establishment of red-category industries, and thermal power projects.

In the wake of landslides and floods in Kodagu's district headquarters Madikeri, Siddaramaiah committed to rejecting the Kasturirangan report. He noted numerous landslides have occurred in the area, causing significant property damage but no casualties.

The chief minister stated that 67 houses have been completely destroyed and 176 houses partially damaged. Various locations have experienced small-scale landslides as well.