Karnataka rejects Centre's fresh draft notification on Eco-Sensitive Area in Western Ghats

The Karnataka government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that it will reject the latest draft notification issued by the Union government proposing an Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) covering 20,668 square kilometres across 1,449 villages in the State.

Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced the decision after legislators across party lines expressed concern that the proposal would severely impact farmers and residents of the Western Ghats region. The draft notification, issued on July 27, is the seventh such attempt by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to declare the ESA based on the recommendations of the high-level committee led by scientist K. Kasthurirangan.

The Kasthurirangan committee, constituted by the Centre in 2012, submitted its report in 2013 recommending that over 56,000 square kilometres across six States, including 20,668 square kilometres in Karnataka, be declared as an Eco-Sensitive Area. Previous draft notifications had lapsed without being finalised, prompting the ministry to issue a fresh one.

The proposed ESA covers 10 districts in Karnataka — Mysuru, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Chamarajanagar, Shivamogga, Kodagu, Belagavi and Chikkamagaluru — and includes 1,449 villages in 39 taluks. The draft notification bans environment-damaging activities such as mining, quarrying, sand mining, construction and township development, subject to certain limits.

Mr. Reddy said the State government has consistently opposed such draft notifications since the areas identified under the Kasthurirangan report already fall within reserved forests, notified forests or Ecologically Sensitive Zones declared by the State. “Imposing further restrictions in these areas will also affect conservation activities,” he said, explaining the Cabinet's stand.

He assured the House that there is no provision for eviction of residents from the ESA and that daily activities like farming are not specifically banned. “There is no need for people in the Western Ghats to fear. The draft notification does not prohibit agriculture,” he maintained.

The Minister noted that States have a 60-day window from the date of publication to file objections to the draft notification. The Karnataka government is currently examining the document and will formally communicate its rejection to the Centre within the stipulated timeline.

This development highlights the ongoing friction between the State and the Union government over environmental governance, with Karnataka asserting that the Centre's proposal fails to account for local livelihoods and existing conservation measures. The final decision on the ESA notification rests with the Union Ministry, which may consider the State's objections before issuing a final notification.