HC restrains State from issuing final notification on Kappatagudda

Petitioners approach court saying only selected persons were aware of public meeting on Jan. 16

Row continues: A file photo of Kappatagudda in Gadag district.

In a setback to environmentalists and others demanding ‘conservation reserve’ tag for Kappatagudda reserve forest area in Gadag district, the High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday restrained the State and its authorities from issuing final notification based on the decision taken during a public consultation meeting held on January 16.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Budihal R.B. passed the interim order on a PIL petition, filed by Venkatesh Dasara and four others from Gadag, seeking direction to quash the proceedings of the public consultation meeting. The interim order would be in operation during the pendency of the petition.

The petitioners pointed out that the meeting held at Tontadarya Kala Bhavan, Dambala village, Mundarigi taluk, Gadag district, on January 16 was not convened as per the requirement of the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Also, the petitioners claimed that the public notice dated January 7 was not published in any newspaper having wide circulation in the area so as to inform the public, but was only put up on the notice board of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gadag.

Interestingly, the petitioners alleged that “only a few selected persons, including local politicians and local religious heads, were aware of this public notice. The so-called public consultation was held at one of the institutions belonging to a local religious head at whose behest the entire conservation move was taken place.”

It has been alleged in the petition that religious heads and politicians, who had occupied the dais during the pubic consultation meeting, did not allow any person from public or villagers, including two of the petitioners, to express their opinion.

Livelihood of locals

They said they were against declaring Kappatagudda as conservation reserve as the livelihood of 1.17 lakh residents of 33 villages would be affected as they depended on Kappatagudda for rearing 90,000 cattle and 40,000 sheep.

Also, declaration as conservation reserve would affect 1,000 hectares of land under cultivation by local farmers, besides denying direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities available to locals from the 250 active windmill projects that are already set up in the area.