Karnataka Assembly blocks Centre's draft ESA notification for Western Ghats

In a unanimous vote, the Karnataka Assembly rejected the Centre's seventh draft notification that would declare 20,668 sq km of the Western Ghats an Ecologically Sensitive Area, covering 1,449 villages in ten districts. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar introduced the resolution during a three-day special session, emphasizing the need to consider residents' concerns after visits to Udupi, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan.

The Assembly criticized the draft for relying on satellite data without joint physical surveys, warning that inclusion of agricultural fields, plantations, houses and public facilities could trigger disputes over property and inheritance. It also highlighted unresolved matters such as Bagar Hukum claims, forest rights and pending court cases, and objected to the rule allowing an entire village to be designated if one-fifth falls within forest limits.

Karnataka proposed that only actual forest land be subject to ESA status and that a year-long, survey-number-based mapping exercise be carried out by a committee headed by a retired judge, involving revenue, forest officials, farmers, industry representatives and scientific experts. The state will also appoint a senior lawyer to present its case before the Supreme Court and awaits guidance from the National Green Tribunal on the final notification.