Hundreds of people of Chikkamagaluru have objected to the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report on the Western Ghats. Many have submitted their objections to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in writing, besides expressing opinions at public fora.
Malenadu Ulisi Vedike, a forum to save Malenadu, has conducted meetings in Chikkamgaluru, Kalasa in Mudigere taluk and Sringeri.
The National Green Tribunal has ordered the Centre to implement the committee’s report on the demarcation of ecologically sensitive areas. The MoEF issued a final notification on October 3 and invited objections by December 3.
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Kalkuli Vittal Hegde, a founder of the Vedike, said, “This report is aimed at evacuating people from Malenadu. Thousands have already filed objections to the report and many more will do so before December 3.”
The report imposes restrictions on agricultural activities in sensitive areas. Farmers will not be allowed to use chemical fertilizers. “Moreover, many people of the area are not aware of the report. There has been no attempt either to inform the people or engage them in dialogue with regard to the process,” he said.
Besides that, the residents of the district are worried over the NGT’s order to declare deemed forest area. “Hundreds of people have their dwelling places in the deemed forest areas, which is 1.38 lakh acres in the district. The people’s representatives are not responding to the issue,” Mr. Hegde said.
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The forum has organised another public meeting at Jaipur in Koppa taluk on November 13.