With the political leaders in Kodagu mobilising people against the implementation of the Kasturirangan Committee report on conserving the Western Ghats, the state level experts committee which visited Madikeri on November 28 to hear public grievances on the proposed Environmental Sensitive Zone, met with opposition from coffee growers, elected representatives and members of various organisations.
At the meeting held at the Fort Hall, as many as 600 objections were submitted before the executive committee, comprising Brijesh Kumar Dikshit and Vipin Singh, and deputy commissioner Anurag Tewari and chief conservator of forests Jagmohan Sharma, reports Deccan Herald from Madikeri.
MLA K G Bopaiah said, the people of Kodagu need not be taught about conservation. “The people and elected representatives will not keep quiet if the report is forcefully imposed upon the people in the name of conservation,” he warned.
If coffee plantations, C and D lands and paisari lands are included under eco sensitive areas, people cannot survive, Bopaiah said.
MP Pratap Simha said, he has convinced Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar about the adverse effects of the implantation of the report. He said, “MLAs K G Bopaiah and Appacchu Ranjan will raise the issue in the Assembly, while I will oppose the report in the Parliament,” he said.
MLA M P Appacchu Ranjan, ZP President Chodumada Shareen Subbaiah, Congress party district unit president B T Pradeep, district JD(S) president V P Shashidhar, Small Growers Association president Cheranda Nanda Subbaiah and others expressed their opposition.
Report Next Week
Committee member Brijesh Kumar Deekshit said, the opinion of the people will be submitted in the form of a report to the government on Monday.
DC Anurag Tewari said, the objections of the people will be sent to the government as it is. The video clippings of the proceedings will also be sent to the government, he added.
