The National Committee for Protection of Natural Resources (NCPNR), Jan Sangram Parishat (JSP) and other like-minded organisations have decided to hold a national-level symposium in Davangere to raise awareness on land-grabbing, illegal mining and protection of the Western Ghats.
Addressing press persons here on Saturday, founder-president NCPNR and Samaj Parivartana Samudaya (SPS) S.R. Hiremath said the symposium would be held from October 11, the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan.
It will be followed by a two-day convention in which several like-minded organisations would participate, he said.
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Mr. Hiremath said this decision was taken after the deliberations at Ranebennur in Haveri district on June 8 and 9. Several wide-ranging issues were discussed there.
During the deliberations, representatives of various organisations emphasised the need for total rejection of the Kasturirangan panel report on the Western Ghats.
Mr. Hiremath said that the purpose of the symposium was to discuss the socio-economic and political situation in the country, bring together like-minded organisations to launch a political movement. The symposium will also highlight the need to reject the report, which, if implemented, could prove detrimental to the Western Ghats, he added.
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A delegation comprising members of SPS and similar organisations will also meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking action against those connected with land-grabbing cases across Karnataka. “We have already filed a petition with the High Court on the land grab cases and collected documents to prove encroachments over government lands,” he said.