Shivamogga, 7 September 2026 – Karnataka’s School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa declared on Monday that the state will not permit any implementation of the Kasturirangan report, promising protection for land, agriculture and livelihoods in the Malnad region.
The Kasturirangan Committee had suggested that 37 percent of the Western Ghats – roughly 60,000 sq km spread across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu – be designated as an Eco‑Sensitive Area to balance development with conservation. Bangarappa addressed a Congress padayatra and protest in Thirthahalli, insisting the proposal would be discarded.
The march, led by former minister Kimmane Ratnakar, started at Binthala and ended at the Shanthaveri Gopalagowda Rangamandira. Throughout the procession, Congress supporters chanted slogans against the BJP and the central government.
Speaking to the gathering, Bangarappa recalled a cabinet sub‑committee formed during Siddaramaiah’s first term after his 2013 assembly entry. He noted that the committee’s recommendations led to an outright rejection of the Kasturirangan report, a stance the Congress has maintained since the beginning.
“The issue is not merely a notification dispute; it is about safeguarding Malnad’s land, agriculture, livelihoods and future,” he said. While acknowledging the Western Ghats as a source of pride, Bangarappa warned that environmental measures should not jeopardise communities that have lived in harmony with the hills for generations.
Farmers from Shivamogga and neighboring Malnad districts are demanding a physical survey that excludes human settlements and cultivated fields from the proposed ESA boundaries. Bangarappa questioned the participation of BJP MPs B Y Raghavendra and Shobha Karandlaje in the central meeting held on 11 August 2016, asking whether they attended.
He reminded the audience that Karnataka has rejected the report multiple times, with the state assembly passing a resolution and forwarding it to the centre. Despite these rejections, the central government has issued draft notifications repeatedly – the latest being the seventh – inflaming local anger.
According to Bangarappa, the first six drafts listed 139 villages in Thirthahalli taluk; the current draft expands the count to 154. He also queried the role of local BJP MLA Araga Jnanendra in the matter.
Emphasising that Malnad farmers are part of the ecosystem, Bangarappa listed traditional crops such as arecanut, paddy, coffee and pepper, stating that they are not opposed to environmental protection but seek a balanced approach that does not threaten their way of life.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Sahil Online