No final plan to protect Western Ghats till expert panel gives clearance, says Karnataka CM Bommai

“All the areas have been declared as eco sensitive without ground survey only on the basis of satellite survey. Our stand is that the people, their livelihood and the environment must all be considered equally for protection. The lives of people must be considered,” Bommai said.

“There are large scale plantations in the region ranging from coffee estates to areca plantations to coconut plantations. There is also a lot of agricultural activity. Everything looks green from the top but it is land under cultivation and only a land survey will reveal the extent of cultivated land,” he said.

“As per the Biodiversity Act the opinion of the local village panchayat has to be obtained to change local land usage and that has not been done. The local people have not been consulted,” Bommai said.

“All states will get a chance to explain the reality once more. All villages will be consulted. We have a chance to save the environment and livelihood,” Bommai claimed.

A high level committee has been constituted which has been given a year’s time look at ground realities and provide a report and “until such time the draft notification cannot be implemented,” he said.

A delegation comprising Bommai, Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra, water resources minister Govind Karjol, state BJP president Nalin Kateel, BJP general secretary C T Ravi, MPs B Y Raghavendra, Prathap Simha, MLAs Hartal Halappa and D Jeevaraj met the environment minister Bhupinder Yadav and the minister of state for agriculture and Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje.