Kasturirangan report: State to file appeal in SC seeking more time

MoEF had asked State to file comments before December 15

The State government will file an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking more time to file its comments on the K. Kasturirangan report on conservation of Western Ghats.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who concluded a two-day visit to the national capital, on Thursday said several MPs from Karnataka had taken exception to the report.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had asked the State government to submit its comments before December 15.

‘Detailed report sought’

Home Minister K.J. George told presspersons here on Thursday that the government had already given its comments in brief on the report. But, the Centre had sought a more detailed report.

The committee members, comprising Forest Department officials, had commenced public hearings in Western Ghat districts. Based on the public hearings, a detailed report would be submitted to the Centre, he said.

However, sources in the State Secretariat said that Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee had written to the Centre seeking time till February 15 to give the government’s reply to the Centre.

The MoEF had written to the six States in the Western Ghats region seeking comments on the Kasturirangan report. So far, only Kerala has filed its objections.

The State government has constituted a Cabinet sub-committee and it has held five meetings so far to discuss the report.

Of Karnataka’s total geographical area of 1,91,791 sq. km, the Western Ghats taluks cover 44,448 sq. km, including 1,576 villages (identified as eco-sensitive areas).

On winter session

Mr. George said the law enforcement authorities would act tough if the Opposition BJP made an attempt to disturb law and order during the winter session, scheduled to commence in Belagavi on December 9.