Kasturirangan report: People’s opinion is my opinion, says Shivakumar

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday said, “I have not come to answer anyone. I have come to know the demands and feelings of the people. The opinion of the people should be my opinion.”

He was addressing a public meeting to hear people’s opinion on the K. Kasturirangan Committee report at Hebri in Udupi district. Mr. Shivakumar said he could have taken a decision sitting at the Vidhana Soudha. “But I have come to you to know the truth and the real situation. Only when we understand the pain of people, can we take the right decision,” he said.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar addressing a public meeting at Hebri, in Udupi district, on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
UMESH S. SHETTIGAR

As the State has to submit its opinion on the Kasturirangan report to the Union government by September 27, the government would examine suggestions expressed in the meeting, including the formation of an expert committee, following the Kerala model, collecting opinions through gram sabhas, conducting a physical survey and preparing a zonal management plan.

Mr. Shivakumar said, besides listening to people, he would also listen to people’s representatives in the legislature before taking a decision.

Praising the coastal forests, sea, environment, culture, religious heritage and the hard work of people, he said, “Tulunadu is the greatest asset of the country.”

Exclude habitations

Malekudiya leader Sridhara Gowda demanded that densely populated areas be excluded from the scope of the Kasturirangan report. He said, “Malekudiyas are the ones who have preserved the forest, river, and environment. Our interests should be protected. The problem will not be solved by a satellite survey. A physical survey should be conducted. Infrastructure including roads, houses, electricity connection is also facing problems. There should be no deviation from the Forest Rights Act.”

Village committees

Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar said, “Forest areas can be brought under Kasturirangan. But populated areas should be left out. A committee should be formed in every village and a physical survey should be conducted. A zonal management plan should be formulated. Steps should be taken to ensure that future development projects including railways and drinking water do not become a problem.”

Udupi District In-charge Minister Rizwan Arshad, Forest Minister Ramalinga Reddy, MP Kota Srinivasa Poojary, MLAs Yashpal Suvarna, Suresh Shetty Gurme, Gururaj Gantiholi, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, MLC Manjunath Bhandari, former Ministers B. Ramanatha Rai, Jayaprakash Hegde, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa and others were present.