The BJP in Karnataka has said it is ready to support the state government in opposing the implementation of the Kasturirangan Committee recommendations on the Western Ghats. However, the party has asked the government to first conduct a detailed physical survey to understand the actual conditions on the ground before taking a final decision.
During the special session of the Karnataka legislature on September 21, Opposition Leader R Ashoka opposed both the Madhav Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports in their current form. He questioned the use of satellite imagery to identify Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), saying that satellite-based mapping may not always clearly distinguish forests from agricultural land, plantations and settlements.
Ashoka argued that areas such as coffee plantations, arecanut farms and other green agricultural land could be identified as forest areas through satellite mapping. He said this could create difficulties for farmers and residents in several Western Ghats districts.
The BJP leader proposed that Karnataka first carry out a village-level physical survey. He also suggested preparing detailed survey-number maps and consulting local residents and Gram Sabhas before finalising the boundaries of the proposed ESAs.
Ashoka also referred to Kerala’s approach, where ground-level verification was carried out to identify farms, houses, villages and forest areas. He said Karnataka could consider a similar process before submitting its objections to the Centre and, if required, presenting its case before legal authorities.
The BJP has also indicated that it is willing to join the state government’s delegation to the Centre to present Karnataka’s concerns. The party has called for a legal team to examine the issue and prepare the state’s case.
The Karnataka government has also raised concerns about relying only on satellite imagery. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said the actual situation could be understood through physical surveys and suggested village-wise verification and survey-number-level maps.
At the same time, the government has said that environmental protection and the livelihoods of people living in the Western Ghats need to be considered together. Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah said the state was not rejecting every part of the Kasturirangan report but was seeking changes to provisions it does not accept.
The issue remains important because the latest draft notification proposes Ecologically Sensitive Area status for about 20,668 square kilometres covering 1,576 villages in 33 taluks across 10 Karnataka districts. The state has been given a deadline to submit its objections to the Centre.
The debate therefore centres on how Karnataka can protect the Western Ghats while also considering the concerns of farmers, residents and local communities. A physical survey and further consultations are now among the key demands being discussed before the state takes its next step.