Karnataka legislators to oppose Centre's draft notification on Western Ghats
Bengaluru (PTI): Legislators from Malnad region will meet under the leadership of Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on July 18, during which they are likely to adopt a resolution opposing the Centre re-issuing a draft notification on Western Ghats eco-sensitive area.
Several public representatives from the Western Ghats area are of the opinion that the Centre's move is detrimental to people living there.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had recently re-issued the draft notification of the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in Western Ghats, of which 20,668 sq. km. is in Karnataka.
With the lapsing of the earlier notifications, the MoEF&CC has reissued the same.
Karnataka Forest Minister Umesh Katti too has recently said he will hold a meeting with the department officials, legislators and stakeholders from the region to decide on the next course of action.
"In case if this notification gets implemented, it will lead to gloominess to the lives of people living in the Malnad region, developmental works will get affected and it will cause severe economic distress," Jnanendra was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his office.
He noted that the Karnataka government has already rejected the Kasturirangan committee report and has repeatedly made its stand clear.
"It is the strong opinion of the legislators from the region that there should be no change in that stand taken by the state, and a resolution will be adopted by legislators at the Monday meeting opposing the draft notification," the minister said.
The Kasturirangan report of 2013 had also recommended 20,668 sq km of ESA in Karnataka. The Centre has notified a total 46,832 sq km spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
The draft notification has been rejected multiple times by the states concerned, including Karnataka.
Declaring Western Ghats as ESA would regulate certain human activities including mining and constructions among others, that many say pose a threat to fragile ecosystems.
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Deputy CM DK Shivakumar asks Vokkaliga Sangha office-bearers to postpone caste census meeting
Bengaluru, Jan 12: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said that he has asked the Vokkaliga Sangha office-bearers to postpone the meeting on the caste census.
He also warned them to stop squabbling or else he would appoint an administrator in the Sangha.
"A team of our new office-bearers came to meet me. They all came together after reconciliation. I have warned them that if the squabbling continues then I will appoint an administrator in the Sangha. They have agreed that they will work together," Shivakumar said.
Asked whether he held a meeting with the Sangha office-bearers, the Deputy CM said he neither conducted any meeting nor felt the need for it.
"The Sangha office-bearers had decided to hold a meeting regarding the caste census. I have told them to postpone the meeting as it would create unnecessary confusion. I also told them that I would talk to the seer of Adi Chunchanagiri Math Nirmananandanatha Swami about it," he told reporters here.
Vokkaliga is one of the major dominant communities of agrarians in Karnataka which Shivakumar belongs to.
The Chairperson of the Commission for Backward Classes, K Jayaprakash Hegde, submitted the socio-economic and education survey report, commonly known as the caste census report, to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 29, 2024.
It has triggered a debate among various backward communities as some have opposed it.
State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said on January 2 during the cabinet briefing that the cabinet would discuss the caste census in its next meeting.
Asked about Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti’s letter to the Home Minister about transferring the case pertaining to C T Ravi, the Deputy CM said the Home Minister would respond to it.
Ravi, a BJP MLC, is accused of using foul words against Minister for Woman and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar on the last day of the Legislative Council session in Belagavi on December 19, 2024.
A case has been registered against Ravi in this regard.
