Karnataka to decide on Western Ghats ESA draft after public input, legislature debate

Karnataka will take a position on the draft notification proposing to declare parts of the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) only after weighing public opinion and the debate in a special session of the legislature, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said.

Speaking to reporters at Sakaleshpur in Hassan district on Sunday, he noted that the Centre had issued the draft notification and set September 27 as the deadline for objections. A special session has been convened from Monday, and the government is collecting people's views ahead of it, he said.

Mr. Shivakumar said he had travelled to other parts of the Malnad region to hear from communities living on the fringes of forests. A final decision, he added, would follow the opinions of the public and elected representatives.

The Chief Minister recalled that the previous Siddaramaiah-led government had rejected the draft notification, yet the Centre had issued it again. During the special session, legislators will be given time to discuss issues concerning farmers, with no Question Hour or calling attention motion. Participants in the debate will examine the merits and demerits of the K. Kasturirangan report, he said.

On the question of elephant menace in Sakaleshpur, Mr. Shivakumar said legislators representing the area could raise the matter during the session, and that the government would take whatever decisions were needed to address people's problems.

Asked about former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's remark comparing the present government to a touring talkies, he said he took opposition comments sportingly. Criticism is routine in politics, he said, and any suggestions offered would also be considered.