Bengaluru, Sep 21 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President B.Y. Vijayendra on Monday urged the Karnataka government to seek a one-year extension from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to conduct a physical survey of areas covered under the Kasturirangan report, instead of merely passing a resolution against the Centre during the special Assembly session.
Speaking in the session, Vijayendra said the government should take the lead in protecting the Western Ghats as well as farmers, families and livelihoods in forest-fringe areas.
“The Western Ghats must be protected, rivers must be protected, and the environment must be protected. At the same time, the people living on the forest fringes, farmers and their livelihoods must also be protected. It is the responsibility of the government to strike a balance between the two,” he said.
He stressed that the session should not be used merely to level allegations against the Centre but should provide a platform to find a permanent solution to the concerns of people living in the affected areas.
“Passing a resolution and sending it to the Centre will not solve the problem. We have to see what happens before the NGT and also face the judicial process. Therefore, the state government must move forward with complete preparation,” he said.
Vijayendra questioned the reliance on satellite surveys conducted several years ago, saying land-use patterns and ground realities had changed considerably.
He argued that plantations, agricultural land, forests and settlements must be verified on the ground before decisions affecting people’s lives are taken.
He demanded that Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) maps at the survey-number level be prepared for all 1,476 villages under the Kasturirangan proposal and made available to the public in Kannada.
He suggested that the Revenue and Forest departments jointly conduct the survey with gram panchayats and local representatives, and that special gram sabhas be held in every affected village to record residents’ views.
Vijayendra said it would not be possible to complete such a large-scale survey and prepare documentation before the October 25 deadline. He urged the government to deploy a strong legal team before the NGT and seek at least one year to complete the exercise.
“Get an extension, conduct the physical survey, prepare an alternative map, obtain resolutions from the gram sabhas and formulate clear measures to protect people’s livelihoods. Then submit a comprehensive report before the NGT,” he said.
He also called for time-bound disposal of pending applications under Bagair Hukum and Section 94A provisions to address concerns of people living on forest fringes. He suggested setting up a separate task force to resolve disputes relating to forest and revenue boundaries.
Vijayendra urged the government to take seriously complaints that forest officials were causing unnecessary difficulties for residents.
“People are already facing conflict with wild animals. At the same time, a situation of conflict with forest officials has also developed. There are complaints that people face difficulties even in bringing firewood for funerals and constructing toilets. The Chief Minister has said that he would tighten the screws on officials. That should now be implemented,” he said.
He criticised ruling party legislators and ministers for undertaking padayatras with people over the Kasturirangan issue while the government maintained that it would not politicise the matter.
“Do not turn people’s concerns into a political programme. Work to find solutions to their problems,” he said.
Vijayendra concluded that the Western Ghats, forest-fringe villages and livelihoods must all be protected while ensuring development.
“The Western Ghats must be protected. The villages on the forest fringes must survive, people’s lives and livelihoods must be protected, and development must continue. The state government should act immediately instead of simply passing a resolution and washing its hands of the issue,” he said.
–IANS
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