Hundreds of farmers in Hosanagara marched against the central government's proposal to declare over 20,000 sq. km of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA). Protesters are demanding a physical survey to protect agricultural lands and human settlements.
- Massive protest march held from Karanagiri to Hosanagara against ESA notification.
- Farmers oppose the Kasturirangan Committee report basis for the notification.
- Key leaders from various political backgrounds joined the farmers in unity.
- Demand for a physical land survey to exclude cultivated areas from ESA.
In a significant show of defiance, hundreds of farmers participated in a massive protest march in Hosanagara on Saturday. The march was organized to oppose the seventh draft notification which seeks to declare over 20,668 sq. km of the area surrounding the Western Ghats in Karnataka as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
Under the banner of the Western Ghats Raitha Sahakari Vedike, the protestors marched a nine-kilometer route from Karanagiri to Hosanagara. Throughout the demonstration, participants raised slogans against the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Many protesters carried placards specifically targeting the Kasturirangan Committee report, which serves as the foundation for the proposed ESA designation.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that the tension surrounding the ESA notification represents a critical collision between environmental conservation mandates and the socio-economic survival of rural communities. If the notification is implemented without distinguishing between forest cover and active agricultural landscapes, it could lead to severe legal restrictions on farming, land use, and local development, potentially triggering a large-scale agrarian crisis in the region.
The implementation of environmental safeguards must not come at the cost of disenfranchising the very communities that act as the traditional stewards of the land.
The protest saw a rare display of political unity. Leaders including Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra, former Minister Araga Jnanendra, Sagar MLA Belur Gopal Krishna, and Western Ghats Raitha Sahakari Okkuta president M.R. Manjunath Gowda, set aside political differences to address the gathering. The leaders collectively urged the State government to conduct a rigorous physical survey of the land to ensure that human habitats and cultivated landscapes are kept outside the ambit of the ESA notification.
Drawing a comparison with neighboring states, Mr. Manjunath Gowda pointed out that Kerala has successfully managed to reduce the extent of land under ESA through detailed physical surveys. He emphasized that Karnataka should adopt a similar scientific and ground-level approach. The organizers have announced plans to escalate the movement with similar protest marches in Sagar, Tirthahalli, and Shikaripur to spread awareness and pressure the government for action.
Historical Background
The debate over the Western Ghats has persisted for decades, primarily centered on the recommendations of various committees, most notably the Kasturirangan Committee. While the goal is to protect one of the world's most biodiverse regions, the lack of clear demarcation between protected forests and inhabited farmland remains the primary point of contention for local stakeholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is the core grievance of the farmers?
Answer: Farmers are protesting against the notification that designates a vast area of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), fearing it will restrict their farming rights.
Question 2: What specific remedy are the protesters seeking?
Answer: They are demanding a physical land survey to ensure that human settlements and agricultural lands are excluded from the ESA boundaries.
