Western Ghats: Karnataka CM moots ground survey, plot-level mapping to counter Kasturirangan draft

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday proposed drone-based LiDAR and plot-level mapping of the Western Ghats to distinguish natural forests from farmland, as the state opposed the Kasturirangan draft on declaring parts of the region as an eco-sensitive area (ESA).

The proposal came as the legislature began a three-day special session to discuss the implications of the report and formulate the state’s response to the Centre. The state has until September 27 to submit its objections to the latest draft notification.

The Centre’s July 27 draft proposes ESA status for 20,668 sq km across 10 Karnataka districts. The Kasturirangan panel had identified about 37% of the Western Ghats across six states as ecologically sensitive.


Shivakumar said the state’s proposed framework would use ground-level mapping to avoid agricultural land and plantations being wrongly classified as forest areas. It also proposes payments for ecosystem services to encourage conservation and sustainable farming.

The framework he mentioned on Monday moots greater participation of tribal communities in forest protection, safeguards for sensitive areas while permitting controlled tourism and clean-energy projects, and stronger monitoring against illegal land grabbing. The government has also proposed restoration and compensation mechanisms where livelihoods or property are affected.

The Congress government has maintained that the report, based substantially on remote-sensing data, does not adequately reflect ground realities. The BJP has also opposed its implementation, citing concerns over its impact on farmers, residents and development projects.

Opposition leader R Ashoka said implementation of the report would affect farmers, poorer households and power projects in the region.