Bengaluru: Karnataka state government seems to have learnt no lessons from the Kodagu disaster of 2018 and landslides and flood reported from other coastal and Malnad districts in 2019 monsoon season. Fearing the resistance from the locals, the state government has again sent its objections to the Kasturirangan report implementation.
In a letter to union environment minister Prakash Javdekar, Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa has informed that Karnataka government is not in a position to accept this report in the present form and that centre needs to hold consultation with the people of the state before any decision in this regard is taken.
Citing the livelihood of poor residing in the ecologically sensitive areas, he stated that the state economics will be hit if the report is implemented in the present form. Yediyurappa also stated that if more forest land is brought under the ambit of the sensitive zone, it will affect the common man and lakhs of families may face eviction and other challenges.
The state government’s decision to oppose the report again is expected to lead to another round of war of words between the environmentalists and the people’s representatives.
