Environmentalists have raised objection to Dr. K. Kasturirangan’s report on Western Ghats that it does not restrict the hydroelectric projects in the eco-sensitive area. The rich bio-diversity in Western Ghats has been badly disturbed by many hydroelectric projects sanctioned by successive governments, they alleged during a public hearing on the Kasturirangan’s report here on Thursday.
The district-level committee for implementing the report had convened the meeting. Senior officials of the Forest Department Raviraj and Shashwati Mishra, who are also members of the State-level committee for implementing the report, listened to the views expressed at the meeting.
Kishor Kumar of Malenadu Janapara Horata Samiti pointed out that environmentalists of Hassan had been opposing the hydroelectric projects in Western Ghats. The flora and fauna in the region had been adversely affected by such projects. “The Kasturirangan’s report restricts mining activities. Similarly, it should have restricted power projects too for conserving the Western Ghats,” he said.
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Vikram Gowda from Agani village expressed a similar opinion. The report did not put any restriction on installation of wind mills. The government should restrict them also. In hilly region, many localities and hamlets were deprived of road connectivity. “The Kasturirangan’s report should not come in the way of constructing roads. In most of the cases, the roads may have to be constructed in forest areas. The government should not ignore such needs in the name of protecting the forest,” he said.
The draft notification of declaring eco-sensitive area, as per the Kasturirangan’s report, included 30 villages in Sakleshpur and Alur taluks. Representatives of villages who attended the meeting sought a clarification from the government on whether the notification would restrict people from cutting timber and sell their private land. They wanted to know how 30 villages had been chosen. Deputy Conservator of Forests Ganesh S. Bhat explained to the participants that the committee had chosen the villages considering the extent of natural landscape. “Based on satellite images, the committee chose all those villages as they have natural landscape spanning more than 20 per cent of the total area to form eco-sensitive area,” he said.
Dr. Raviraj and Mr. Shashwati Mishra said that the Kasturirangan’s committee had not done ground survey while selecting the villages.
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