Now Reading: Kasturirangan draft unacceptable if it curbs farming: Karnataka MLA
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Kasturirangan draft unacceptable if it curbs farming: Karnataka MLA
Karnataka Chief Minister's Political Secretary and Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna has said the Kasturirangan draft notification cannot be accepted in its present form if it restricts agricultural activities and harms livelihoods in Kodagu. Speaking in Madikeri on Saturday, he said environmental protection and local interests must go hand-in-hand.
Ponnanna said the Central government's draft should clearly state what activities will be restricted. He said the state had no objection to curbs on mining, quarrying and luxury resorts, but could not accept restrictions on farming activities such as building wells and felling trees. He noted the state government had rejected the Kasturirangan report several times and had also rejected the latest draft.
Ponnanna added that road works in Kodagu had improved, with Rs 40 crore released for the Virajpet road, and said he was confident of becoming a minister in the future. The proposal to upgrade Virajpet hospital had also been approved.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Kasturirangan report, submitted in 2013, sought to demarcate ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. Kodagu, with its large coffee plantations and forest cover, has been at the centre of the controversy since the draft notification was issued in 2018. The key unresolved question is how the Centre will reconcile conservation goals with the land-use needs of lakhs of farmers. The state's repeated rejections signal a political deadlock that now awaits a final central decision, likely after further consultations.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
