Bengaluru: Congress MLC B.K. Hariprasad has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to seek additional time from the Centre to conduct a detailed physical survey of areas covered under the Kasturirangan report, saying ground-level assessment is necessary before finalising the state’s position.
Speaking during the special session of the Karnataka legislature, Hariprasad backed the state government’s proposal to constitute an expert committee headed by a retired judge to examine the shortcomings in the Kasturirangan recommendations and suggest modifications.
The committee, he said, would include officials from the Revenue and Forest departments, representatives of farmers and industry, and experts in environment and forestry.
Survey at village, survey-number level
Hariprasad said the proposed physical survey should collect details at the village and survey-number level, particularly in the Western Ghats.
He said the state had decided to seek a one-year extension to complete the exercise. A similar ground-level survey had earlier been undertaken in Kerala through a committee headed by Oommen, he said, arguing that Karnataka could consider a comparable approach.
The demand for a physical survey has emerged as a key issue in the ongoing debate over the Kasturirangan recommendations. Karnataka has sought a ground-level assessment to better distinguish forests and natural landscapes from inhabited and cultivated areas.
‘Balance development and environment’
Hariprasad said environmental protection and development should be considered together while deciding the future of the Western Ghats.
Referring to Uttara Kannada, he pointed out that the district has extensive forest cover and that environmental considerations have affected infrastructure projects. He cited the challenges associated with setting up a super-speciality hospital as an example of the sensitivity surrounding development activities in the region.
The Western Ghats are crucial to rainfall and water resources, Hariprasad said, adding that the long-term environmental consequences of development decisions should also be considered.
“We need to think about the kind of environment and natural wealth we leave behind for future generations,” he said.
Calls for environmental experts
Hariprasad urged Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy to ensure that the proposed expert committee includes specialists with expertise in environmental conservation, forest resources and the interests of future generations.
Questioning whether pollution in Bengaluru had declined merely because the state has a Pollution Control Board, he said forming a committee alone would not be sufficient.
According to Hariprasad, the committee should comprise experts capable of assessing the ecological implications of the recommendations while also taking local realities into account.
The Karnataka legislature has been debating the Kasturirangan report during its special session. The Assembly subsequently passed a resolution rejecting the report in its present form and sought a review based on ground realities and local concerns.