Karnataka Government Rejects Kasturirangan Report Notification

The Karnataka government has once again made its opposition to the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report clear, with Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara strongly criticising the latest notification issued by the Centre.

The notification covers 1,449 villages across 10 districts in the Western Ghats and proposes their inclusion as ecologically sensitive areas. The move has triggered concern among residents of Malnad and Western Ghats regions, with the state government arguing that decisions affecting people living in these areas cannot be taken without proper consultation.

Parameshwara said the government has not changed its position on the report and would not accept its implementation in Karnataka. He also said the concerns of families who have lived in the region for generations must be considered before taking any major decision on environmental protection.

The Deputy Chief Minister has also backed the proposal to hold a special one day session of the Karnataka legislature to discuss the Centre’s decision. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had earlier indicated that the state could convene the special session to debate the notification and decide its next course of action.

According to Parameshwara, environmental conservation and the interests of local communities should not be treated as opposing issues. He argued that people living in the Western Ghats have traditionally depended on the region while maintaining a close relationship with its natural surroundings.

He questioned the approach of imposing restrictions without adequately hearing the concerns of those who could be directly affected. The government believes that any environmental policy should balance conservation requirements with the livelihood and welfare of local communities.

Parameshwara also pointed out that Karnataka has rejected earlier attempts to implement the report. He said the state had communicated its objections to the Centre on several occasions, but the issue has returned with another notification.

The disagreement has also raised questions about Centre state relations. The Deputy Chief Minister described a unilateral decision without meaningful consultation with the state as inconsistent with the spirit of federalism.

He said that if the Centre is genuinely committed to protecting the Western Ghats, it should first listen to the concerns of people living in the affected villages and hold detailed discussions with the Karnataka government. According to him, a mutually acceptable solution should be reached instead of imposing a decision from one side.

The state government is also seeking political support beyond party lines. Parameshwara said the issue should not be viewed only through political differences because it directly concerns the lives and livelihoods of people in the region.

He expressed hope that opposition leaders in Karnataka would support efforts to prevent the report from being implemented in its present form. He also urged Karnataka MPs to raise the issue at the national level and put pressure on the Centre to reconsider its position.

The government has meanwhile sought to reassure residents of the Western Ghats and Malnad areas. Parameshwara said people should not panic and assured them that the state government would make every possible effort to protect their interests.

The Kasturirangan Report has remained a sensitive issue in Karnataka for years because of the proposed environmental restrictions and their possible impact on communities living in the Western Ghats. The latest notification has now brought the debate back into focus, with the state government preparing to challenge the Centre’s position through political and legislative channels.