Uduppi, 19 September (H.S.): Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said the state government would decide whether to conduct a physical survey of areas covered by the Kasturirangan Committee report after holding consultations with officials.

Addressing a meeting of local residents and representatives of various organisations at Hebri in Udupi district, Shivakumar said the government wanted to understand the concerns of people living in the affected regions before conveying its final position to the Centre.

The Kasturirangan Committee had recommended declaring 37 per cent of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). The proposed zone covers nearly 60,000 square kilometres across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The recommendations seek to strike a balance between environmental conservation and development.

Shivakumar said Karnataka must submit its decision to the Union government by September 27. The visit to Hebri was intended to hear public opinion and assess the practical difficulties faced by residents, particularly farmers and families dependent on agriculture and forest resources.

During the meeting, local representatives urged the government to constitute an expert committee on the lines of the Kerala model and conduct a ground-level physical survey before finalising its stand. Shivakumar assured them that the proposals would be examined in consultation with officials and discussed in the state legislature.

The government has convened a three-day special session of the Karnataka legislature to discuss issues affecting farmers, the drought situation and the Kasturirangan report. The report will be taken up for discussion on the first day of the session, he said.

Shivakumar also announced that he would visit Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts to collect feedback from residents in areas likely to be affected by the recommendations.

The government will formulate its response after considering local concerns, environmental requirements and the possible impact of ESA restrictions on livelihoods and development activities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman