Karnataka special session to debate Kasturirangan report, drought

A three-day special session of the Karnataka legislature begins Monday, with the Kasturirangan Committee report on Western Ghats eco-sensitive zones and the state's drought situation dominating the agenda. The Union government has given Karnataka until September 27 to respond to the seventh draft notification based on the report, which recommends banning mining, quarrying and 'Red' category industries across 20,668 sq km in 10 Karnataka districts. Both the Congress government and the BJP-JD(S) opposition oppose the report, and the legislature is expected to pass a resolution against its implementation.

The Congress government says it has provided summary copies of the report in Kannada and English to legislators. Environmentalists have criticised successive governments for not translating the full report into Kannada or sharing it with gram panchayats in affected areas. A group of activists plans to release a notarised Kannada translation on Monday. The session will also address drought: 124 taluks are currently declared drought-affected, and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said over 200 taluks may eventually be included.

The opposition BJP-JD(S) has demanded the session be extended to a week, and urged Rs 50,000 per acre compensation, loan waivers and fodder banks for livestock. BJP Raitha Morcha president A S Patil Nadahalli called on the CM, ministers and MLAs to forgo salaries for drought relief. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the opposition disrupted the monsoon session and that the special session offers a second chance to debate farmer issues.