Hebri: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday interacted with residents and representatives affected by the Kasturirangan report and proposed eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) regulations during a public meeting in Hebri, following the special Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru.
The interaction was held at the Government First Grade College in Hebri, where residents, farmers, elected representatives and community organisations placed their grievances and suggestions before the Chief Minister.
Shivakumar said the government had come to understand the ground realities and listen directly to people before taking a final position on the Kasturirangan report. He said the demand for a physical survey would be discussed with officials and that the government would also consider the suggestions made during the interaction.
CM seeks ground-level inputs
Shivakumar said several representations concerning the Kasturirangan report and ESZ regulations had been brought to his notice.
“You have suggested conducting a physical survey in connection with the Kasturirangan report. I will discuss this with the officials and take a decision,” he said, according to reports from the meeting.
He said the government needed to take people’s views into consideration before finalising its position and indicated that the matter would also be discussed in the legislature.
The Chief Minister said a special session had been convened to discuss the Kasturirangan report, along with farmers’ issues and the drought situation. He said the report would be taken up on the first day of the session and that he would also visit other Malnad areas to hear the views of residents.
Representatives at Hebri urged the government to conduct a physical survey before submitting its position to the Union government. They also sought the constitution of an expert committee on the lines of the process followed in Kerala.
Residents seek physical survey
Several representatives argued that satellite and GPS-based assessments had resulted in inhabited areas being included within proposed eco-sensitive zones.
They said a physical survey would help distinguish forest areas from villages, agricultural land and other inhabited areas.
Representatives also raised concerns about the possible impact of ESZ regulations on agricultural activities, construction and the livelihoods of people who have lived in the region for generations.
The demands were placed before Shivakumar as part of the government’s ongoing consultations on the Kasturirangan report. Reports from the meeting said the representatives wanted the state to examine the ground situation before deciding its final position.
Kota Srinivas Poojary seeks Kerala-model assessment
Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary called for all political parties to work together to address the concerns of people affected by the report.
He suggested that a technical committee be constituted and a physical survey conducted before the state’s report is submitted to the Centre.
Poojary said people were concerned about the possible classification of areas where commercial crops are cultivated as forest areas. He said he would support the demand for a technical assessment without political considerations.
The proposal for a Kerala-model assessment was also raised by other representatives during the interaction, with speakers seeking a process that would distinguish inhabited settlements from ecologically sensitive forest areas.
Sunil Kumar highlights impact on villages
Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar welcomed the Chief Minister’s decision to directly meet people affected by the Kasturirangan report.
He referred to the difficulties faced by residents in areas covered by forest and eco-sensitive zone regulations and said people had been raising the issue for several years.
Sunil Kumar also raised concerns over the one-kilometre eco-sensitive zone from forest boundaries and the procedures residents have to follow for obtaining permissions for construction.
He urged the government to release funds for rehabilitation projects involving people affected by forest zones.
The MLA also sought the upgradation of the Hebri Community Health Centre into a taluk hospital and establishment of an Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) hospital for the working population.
Government stresses balance between conservation and livelihoods
District in-charge minister Rizwan Arshad said the government was committed to protecting the environment while also safeguarding the interests of people living in the region.
He said residents were not opposed to forest conservation but wanted their livelihoods and rights to be considered while implementing environmental regulations.
Arshad said the Kasturirangan report had been prepared using satellite-based assessments and that the government needed to consider ground realities before taking a position.
The minister said Shivakumar’s visit to Hebri was intended to directly hear the concerns of affected residents and representatives.
Forest minister reiterates state’s position
Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the state government had already communicated its position on the Kasturirangan report to the Centre.
He said the government had submitted a report detailing the difficulties faced by people in areas covered by the recommendations.
Reddy also referred to the special session proposed to discuss the issue.
The state government’s consultations come as Karnataka prepares to finalise its position on the implementation of the Kasturirangan recommendations in the state. The government has indicated that it wants to hear affected communities and examine ground realities before proceeding.
Hebri hospital demand also raised
Apart from the Kasturirangan report, the meeting also saw demands for strengthening healthcare infrastructure in Hebri.
Shivakumar said the demand to upgrade the Community Health Centre into a taluk hospital would be examined in consultation with officials.
Representatives also raised other local development concerns, seeking government intervention in areas including healthcare, rehabilitation and infrastructure.
The Chief Minister said the government would examine the demands placed before it and take decisions after discussions with the concerned departments.
Tulu and coastal development discussed
Shivakumar also referred to the decisions taken at the special Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru earlier in the day.
He said the Cabinet had taken 60 decisions, with around 40 relating directly to coastal districts. The Cabinet also approved Tulu as Karnataka’s second additional official language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, addressing a long-standing demand from the region.
The Chief Minister also referred to the government’s plans to strengthen tourism and economic activity in coastal Karnataka and the Malnad region.
He highlighted the contribution of the region to education, healthcare and commerce and said development should create opportunities locally.
Public consultation to continue
The Hebri meeting forms part of the state government’s wider consultation process on the Kasturirangan report. Shivakumar is also scheduled to meet residents and stakeholders in other Malnad areas as the government prepares to discuss the issue further.
The central issue raised at Hebri was the demand for a physical, ground-level assessment before final decisions are taken on the areas that could be covered by eco-sensitive zone regulations.
The participation of elected representatives, community organisations and affected residents provided the government with multiple perspectives on the environmental and livelihood concerns surrounding the report. The state government’s next steps will depend on its discussions with officials, the legislative deliberations and the consultations being held in affected regions.