Kasturirangan Report Implementation Causes Concern Among Western Ghats Foothill Residents: Muniyalu Uday Kumar Shetty
- Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to Visit Hebri on September 18 to Hear Public Grievances
- Appeal to People from Affected Areas to Participate in Large Numbers
Udupi: The notification issued by the BJP-led Union Government to implement the Kasturirangan Report, which could have serious consequences for residents of the Western Ghats foothill regions, has caused anxiety among people living in these areas, alleged Congress leader Muniyalu Uday Kumar Shetty.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Shetty said several villages in the Karkala Assembly constituency could also come under the purview of the Kasturirangan Report. He urged the Union Government to immediately withdraw what he termed an “anti-people” notification.
He said residents of the Western Ghats foothill regions were anxious over the policies of the Union Government. Against this backdrop, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to visit Hebri on September 18 to personally hear the problems and grievances of local residents.
Shetty claimed that this would be the first time in history that a Chief Minister had directly visited the affected areas to hear the concerns of residents regarding the Kasturirangan Report.
He appealed to people from areas that could be affected by the report to participate in large numbers in the programme in Hebri on September 18 and place their concerns before the Chief Minister.
For hundreds of years, residents of the Western Ghats foothill regions have been engaged in agriculture, cultivating paddy, arecanut, coconut, black pepper, vegetables, rubber and various other crops. The Union Government’s notification has raised concerns among local residents that their agricultural activities and land rights could be affected, he said.
Shetty said the objective was to ensure that the land rights of local residents were not affected in any manner and that people could continue to lead their lives without fear or anxiety.
He strongly criticised the preparation of a report on the protection of the Western Ghats based primarily on aerial surveys, without adequately hearing the grievances of local residents or conducting gram sabhas. He questioned the preparation of policies concerning people’s lives and livelihoods without sufficient consultation with those living in the affected areas.
He said the people would warmly welcome Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s visit to Hebri and expressed hope that the Chief Minister would hear their concerns and assure them of the government’s support.
Shetty said that even before becoming Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar had given assurances on several occasions regarding the development of the coastal region. After assuming office, his decision to hold a Cabinet meeting in Dakshina Kannada district demonstrated the Congress government’s concern for the development of Tulu Nadu, he said.
He further stated that, for the first time since the formation of Karnataka State, a Cabinet meeting was being held in Mangaluru.
Shetty alleged that although the BJP had continuously won elections in the coastal region for nearly three decades, its contribution to the people of the region had been negligible. He criticised the BJP, stating that despite receiving the people’s mandate to govern, the party had failed to make a significant contribution to the development of the region and had deceived the people.
He further alleged that the BJP had contributed to creating an atmosphere conducive to conflicts and communal riots, thereby affecting peace and communal harmony in the district.
Immense Potential for Coastal Development
Shetty said the coastal districts occupy a prominent position in Karnataka’s service sector and make significant contributions to fields such as hospitality, banking, education and manufacturing.
He said the coastal region has immense potential in terms of per capita income and is second only to Bengaluru in the state in this regard.
With major infrastructure facilities, including ports, airports, railway connectivity and national highways linking North and South India, the coastal region has the potential to develop into a major commercial hub of Karnataka, he said.
He described Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s initiatives towards the comprehensive development of the coastal region as a positive development and said they could significantly benefit the region.
Demand to Grant Official Language Status to Tulu
Shetty said declaring Tulu an official language of Karnataka and including it in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution has been a long-standing demand of the Tulu-speaking community.
He urged the state government to take steps to persuade the Union Government to grant official language status to Tulu, spoken as a mother tongue by lakhs of people, and to include the language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
He also demanded the establishment of a Tulu Development Corporation, citing the cultural heritage and significance of the Tulu language.
Priority for Locals in Employment
Shetty said Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts are at the forefront of education and stressed the need to create more employment opportunities in the region.
He urged the government to ensure that local residents receive priority for employment opportunities offered by government institutions and private companies operating in the two districts.