Karnataka govt committed to implementing Kasturirangan panel report

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Kasturirangan Committee report on preservation and protection of the Western Ghats and it's biosphere in consultation with neighbouring states and the Central government. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Interspecies Conclave, hosted by Atria University, in partnership with Swissnex and Federation of Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he reiterated that the second committee headed by Sanjay Kumar is expected to submit a report by December and based on which, the government will further deliberate. Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the Kasturirangan Committee report has languished for the last 10 years and before that the Gadgil committee report also faced similar fate and that Karnataka, in consultation with six other neighbouring states and the central government, will implement the Kasturirangan report.

The Minister said Karnataka commands a major share of the Western Ghats and over 11 districts fall in its geographical area. The interests of people in these districts and people residing in hilly regions need to be protected. «The Kasturirangan report came in 2013 and it has been under consideration since then.

There are a lot of issues that need to be addressed. It involves 11 districts and lives of lakhs of people...The Karnataka government is very serious about it (Kasturirangan report). We have been protecting biodiversity,» he said.

«The notification and implementation part of the Kasturirangan report is to be taken at the highest level in the sense that the government of Karnataka, the government of India, the Chief Minister and Prime Minister has to take a call on this because six states are involved in it. All of them have to come together and decide regarding this. Finality is