From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Apr 19: The State Cabinet has reiterated its opposition to the implementation of Kasturirangan panel’s report on saving the eco-sensitive Western Ghat region and has urged the union government to withdraw the third notification on the report.

The State cabinet, which met in Bengaluru on Wednesday, took the decision to the again urge the Narendra Modi regime. 

Karnataka has been opposing the report consistently and had filed its objections again after the report was notified for the third time on February 27, 2017. 

"The State cabinet has decided to urge the union government to withdraw its notification on the Kasturirangan report. We will appeal to the union government not to implement the report," Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister TB Jayachandra said briefing the reporters after the meeting.

The report if implemented, would make life miserable for lakhs of people as the report seeks to declare 1576 villages in 10 districts--Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Mysuru and Shivamogga--as part of the Eco-sensitive zone.

Activities like sand mining, quarrying and development activities like construction of schools, hospitals, group housing would be banned if the notification comes into force and would affect the lives of local people, especially the tribals, Jayachandra said explaining the reason for state government's opposition to the report.

All the MLAs cutting across party lines and Gram Panchayats representing the above regions have unanimously opposed the report and passed resolutions against the report, Jayachandra said. 

The report if implemented would wreak havoc on the livelihood of the people in 1576 villages, he added.

Cabinet Panel on Datta Peeta issue

The State cabinet decided to constitute a cabinet sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister TB Jayachandra to resolve the Bababudangiri Datta Peeta controversy in Chikkamagalur district.

The committee has been constituted in accordance with the Supreme Court order asking the state government to try to resolve the dispute amiably between the Hindu and Muslim communities by involving both the sides in talks before May 9.