Ponnanna opposes Kasturirangan draft if it harms farming in Kodagu
Virajpet MLA and Chief Minister’s Political Secretary A.S. Ponnanna criticised the Kasturirangan draft, saying it cannot be accepted if it constrains agricultural activity and livelihoods in Kodagu. He urged balanced protection of the Western Ghats with local interests, citing existing restrictions
Key takeaways
- A.S. Ponnanna, Virajpet MLA and Chief Minister’s Political Secretary, opposes the Kasturirangan draft if it restricts agricultural activities in Kodagu.
- He calls for explicit statements on which activities will be restricted and notes existing Forest Department restrictions affecting locals.
- The Karnataka government has previously rejected the Kasturirangan report and reportedly did so again in response to the latest draft.
What Happened
In Virajpet, A.S. Ponnanna, who serves as Chief Minister’s Political Secretary and is the Virajpet MLA, stated that the Kasturirangan draft notification cannot be accepted in its current form if it imposes limits on agricultural activity and harms livelihoods in Kodagu. He spoke during an interaction organized by the Kodagu District Working Journalists’ Association in Madikeri on Saturday. He argued that environmental protection and safeguarding local interests must accompany one another and emphasized that the Western Ghats require protection to maintain ecological balance and national well-being.
Ponnanna asserted that the draft’s implementation could negatively affect rural livelihoods and agricultural activity. He noted that people are already facing restrictions from the Forest Department and criticized the draft for not clearly outlining which activities would be restricted. He said there is no objection to restrictions on mining, quarrying, and luxury resorts, but he cannot accept limits on agricultural activities such as constructing wells and felling trees. He also mentioned that the state government had rejected the Kasturirangan report several times and had again rejected the latest draft notification. The inclusion of villages in Kodagu in the draft had caused concern among residents.
Why It Matters
Ponnanna’s remarks frame the draft notification as a potential conflict between environmental safeguards and rural livelihoods in Kodagu, a district known for its forests and farming activity. His critique points to a perceived ambiguity in what activities would be restricted, and argues for explicit allowances on agricultural processes already practiced by residents. The stance also signals ongoing political sensitivity around how Western Ghats protections intersect with local economic interests and administrative decisions at the state level.
Background
The Kasturirangan report has previously been rejected by the Karnataka government. The current draft notification, issued by the Central government, proposes certain restrictions intended to protect forest and ecological interests, with Kodagu residents expressing concerns about the potential impact on farming and livelihoods. Kodagu’s road and infrastructure developments have been highlighted by Ponnanna as ongoing improvements, and he stressed that development work continues alongside environmental considerations.
Key Facts
- A.S. Ponnanna is the Chief Minister’s Political Secretary and the Virajpet MLA.
- He spoke at an event organized by the Kodagu District Working Journalists’ Association in Madikeri on a Saturday.
- He argued the Kasturirangan draft cannot be accepted if it restricts agricultural activities or harms local livelihoods in Kodagu.
- He stated the Central government issued the draft notification and should clearly state which activities will be restricted.
- He said there is no objection to restrictions on mining, quarrying, and luxury resorts, but not to restrictions on agricultural activities such as construction of wells and felling of trees.
- The Karnataka government has rejected the Kasturirangan report multiple times and rejected the latest draft notification.
- In Kodagu, inclusion of villages in the district under the draft caused concern among residents.
- Road improvements and investments reported include Bhagamandala road improvement, tenders for Virajpet-Madikeri and Napoklu roads, and ₹40 crore allocated for the Virajpet road.
- Improvement work on the Virajpet hospital was approved, and the electricity network in the constituency was strengthened.
- Ponnanna noted that he was not granted a ministerial berth, discussed past ministerial history in Kodagu, and expressed confidence in becoming a minister in the future.
What Happens Next
The report indicates ongoing political discourse around the Kasturirangan draft and its impact on Kodagu, with local leaders calling for clarity on restricted activities. There is no explicit schedule or next-step announcement in the provided materials regarding further government action or the fate of the draft.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
