Business · India Bureau
Karnataka Legislature seeks to limit ESA coverage to notified forests only
Both houses of the Karnataka Legislature have adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to restrict the Ecologically Sensitive Area designation to already notified forests. The move comes with a call for a 12-month window to conduct physical surveys and establish a judicial committee to address gaps in the Kasturirangan Report.
LSN India ·
The Karnataka Legislature passed a unanimous resolution on Monday urging the Central government to confine the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) designation solely to forests already officially notified by the state. The resolution, adopted by both the Assembly and Council, seeks to address concerns over the scope and implementation of recommendations contained in the Kasturirangan Report.
According to the resolution, the state requires a one-year period to undertake comprehensive physical surveys of affected areas before any final implementation. This timeline would allow for ground-level verification and assessment of the proposed ESA boundaries, officials said.
The Legislature has also proposed the constitution of a high-powered committee headed by a retired judge to review and suggest corrections to perceived deficiencies in the Kasturirangan Report. The committee would examine technical and procedural gaps identified during the consultation process with stakeholders across the state.
The resolution represents a coordinated effort by Karnataka's legislature to engage with the Centre on implementing the report's recommendations in a manner that balances environmental conservation with the interests of local communities and development. The state government is expected to formally communicate these recommendations to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.