MADIKERI: The Kodagu District Small Growers’ Association has formally submitted a memorandum to the Central Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, expressing strong opposition to the High Level Working Group (HLWG) report regarding the Western Ghats. The growers contest the draft notification aimed at establishing an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) in the region, arguing that the criteria for identifying these areas have not been grounded in factual data.
In the memorandum, presented by the association’s president, CA Subbaiah, members assert that the HLWG’s draft notification fails to reflect the realities on the ground. The memorandum highlights that ESAs are intended for regions with high biological richness and low fragmentation, where population density is below 100 persons per square kilometer. However, the growers claim that local inhabitants are being unduly burdened by the proposed regulations.
The association criticizes the Karnataka state government for not taking proactive measures at the panchayat level to assess the implications of implementing these ESAs. They argue, “While global climate change is a grave matter that requires national attention, it is unfair for only a segment of the population to bear the brunt of mitigation efforts.”
The growers do not oppose restrictions on heavy industries, mining, and thermal projects, but they demand the right to extract stone and sand for personal use. Additionally, they criticize concessions made to hotels and hospitality establishments, which they believe favor corporate interests over local needs.
Acknowledging the recent disaster in Wayanad, Kerala, the association attributes such tragedies to poorly executed development projects that disregard geological factors. They hold the government and corporate entities accountable for environmental degradation and habitat loss, asserting that the responsibility lies with them rather than the local population. The memorandum calls for urgent corrective measures to address the ongoing issues in the Western Ghats.
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