The State Government is opposed to the Centre's proposal for a tiger reserve at Kudremukh National Park and expansion of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve because of opposition from local people and elected representatives in both regions.
Replying to a question from Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah during Zero Hour, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S. Suresh Kumar said the Government was not in favour of both the proposals.
In addition to the Bhadra reserve, the Centre has notified tiger reserves at Anshi-Dandeli, Nagarahole, Bandipur, and Biligiriranga, and proposed to set up Bannerghatta National Park, and wildlife sanctuaries at Mookambika and Someshwara, Mr. Kumar said.
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D.N. Jeevaraj (BJP), Ratnakar Kimmane (Congress) and Suneel Hegde (Janata Dal-Secular) said they were not in favour of expansion of the Bhadra reserve or another one at Kudremukh because people living in the area would lose their sources of livelihood.
Addressing presspersons last week, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Motamma, who hails from Chikmagalur district, said she was opposed to the expansion of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Mr. Siddaramiah and Mr. Jeevaraj told the House on Thursday that the tiger reserve would create hardship for the local people and shifting of villages would be a major task.
They asked the Government to urge the Centre to drop the new projects in the interests of the people. Several tribal people would lose their sources of livelihood if the projects went ahead, Mr. Jeevaraj said.
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Replying on behalf of Minister for Housing V. Somanna, Mr. Kumar said MLAs would head committees to select beneficiaries for housing schemes.
In reply to H.C. Balakrishna, Mr. Kumar said committees headed by Assistant Commissioners would be disbanded.