Decision on Kasturirangan report after considering people’s opinions, discussion in legislature: CM Shivakumar
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced that the Karnataka government will finalize its stance on the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas draft notification after public consultation and legislative debate. A special session has been convened to discuss the implications of the Kasturirangan report for local residents and farmers.
Why it matters
The decision impacts environmental conservation efforts versus the livelihoods of communities living in the Western Ghats region.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said the State government will take a stand on the draft notification proposing to declare areas across the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) only after taking into account people’s opinions and the discussion on the issue in the special session of the legislature.
Speaking to press persons at Sakaleshpur in Hassan district on Sunday (September 20, 2026), Mr. Shivakumar said the Centre had issued the draft notification and given time till September 27 for filing objections. “Hence, we have called a special session from tomorrow. Before that, we are collecting people’s opinions on the issue. In order to listen to those living on the fringes of forests, I have visited other places in the Malnad region,” he said.
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