Shivamogga MP Seeks Rollback of Ecologically Sensitive Area Expansion

B.Y. Raghavendra, Member of Parliament from Shivamogga, has urged the Karnataka government to strictly limit the Ecologically Sensitive Area designation to officially notified forests, rejecting any expansion of the zone. The appeal comes amid ongoing debate over the scope and implementation of ESA regulations in the state.

Raghavendra has specifically requested that the state conduct a thorough physical survey of the current ESA boundaries to establish an accurate baseline. Following such an assessment, he has advocated for reducing the designated area in line with what he termed the Kerala model—an apparent reference to a more restrictive approach adopted by the neighbouring state.

The MP's intervention reflects growing concerns among stakeholders in Shivamogga district about the implications of ESA designation for land use and local economic activity. The demand for a survey-based recalibration suggests tensions between conservation objectives and developmental interests in the region.

The Karnataka government has not yet responded to the MP's request. The issue highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing ecological protection with the needs of local communities and economic stakeholders in forest-adjacent areas of South India.