Full Breakdown
Karnataka’s Legislative Standoff Over the Kasturirangan Report
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Core Event: Special Session to Vote on the Kasturirangan Report
A three-day special session of the Karnataka legislature is set to begin on September 21. Lawmakers are expected to adopt a unanimous resolution opposing the draft Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA) notification derived from the K. Kasturirangan Committee report. The session also includes a debate on the state’s severe drought. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued its seventh draft notification on July 27, proposing ESA status for a large tract of the Western Ghats. The state has a September 27 deadline to submit formal objections.
Background & Context
The Kasturirangan Committee was created in August 2012 to revise the earlier Madhav Gadgil report, which had identified over 1 lakh sq km of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive. The 11-member panel submitted its report on April 15 2013, recommending roughly 59 940 sq km across six states be declared an ESA. Subsequent negotiations reduced the figure, and the latest draft notification covers 20 668 sq km in Karnataka, encompassing 1 449 villages in 33 taluks across 10 districts. Karnataka has rejected the report six times since 2013, most recently on September 6 2024, when the state cabinet dismissed the draft issued on July 31 2024.
Official Statements & Responses
Chief Minister D.K. He said the government will decide after considering local views. Deputy Chief Minister K. Parameshwara called for “physical surveys” and village-wise verification before any final decision, noting that the remaining 3 108 sq km not already under protected categories should be examined at the village level. A senior legislative leader said the draft “cannot be accepted” in its current form and that a unanimous resolution against it is expected.
Criticism & Opposition
Farmers in Chikkamagaluru walked nearly 10 km to block the Sringeri State Highway, demanding a meeting with the chief minister and voicing anger over the report’s impact on agriculture. The Akka Foundation Trust organized a “Chalo Bengaluru” satyagraha at Freedom Park, collecting signatures and submitting a memorandum that calls for a climate-emergency declaration, strict enforcement of the single-use-plastic ban, and withdrawal of about 38 projects (including the Sharavathi pumped-storage scheme and several river-linking proposals). The foundation also highlighted land-title issues that prevent forest-adjacent farmers from accessing loans and government benefits.
On-the-Ground Reports
During the protest, thousands of farmers remained on the highway under scorching sun, refusing to disperse until the chief minister arrived. In Hubballi, activists marched toward Bengaluru, planning to present their demands at a public gathering led by environmentalist Avinash. Both actions underscore anxiety about livelihood loss and the perceived lack of consultation in the ESA drafting process.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The draft notification lists 1 449 villages, whereas earlier versions of the Kasturirangan report identified 1 576 villages. Sources do not clarify whether the reduction reflects revised boundaries or data errors, leaving a gap in the precise scope of affected communities. Additionally, while the state projects water stress for ?3 500 villages, the exact criteria for designating a village as water-crisis-prone have not been disclosed.
What’s Next
The state must file its formal objections by September 27. Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara has urged the Council of Ministers to deliberate on the report’s pros and cons and to commission detailed physical surveys. The special legislative session will conclude later this month, after which the Karnataka government is expected to submit its revised stance to the Centre.