Decision on Kasturirangan report after considering people’s opinions, discussion in legislature: CM Shivakumar

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Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said the State government will take a stand on the draft notification proposing to declare areas across the Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) only after taking into account people’s opinions and the discussion on the issue in the special session of the legislature.

Speaking to press persons at Sakaleshpur in Hassan district on Sunday (September 20, 2026), Mr. Shivakumar said the Centre had issued the draft notification and given time till September 27 for filing objections. “Hence, we have called a special session from tomorrow. Before that, we are collecting people’s opinions on the issue. In order to listen to those living on the fringes of forests, I have visited other places in the Malnad region,” he said.

He said the Siddaramaiah government had rejected the draft notification in the past too, but the Centre had issued it once again. “We will take a further decision based on the opinions of the public and elected representatives,” he said.

During the special session, legislators would get time to discuss issues related to farmers. There would be no Question Hour or calling attention motion. Those taking part in the debate would discuss the pros and cons of the K. Kasturirangan report, he said.

Responding to a question on the elephant menace in Sakaleshpur, Mr. Shivakumar said the legislators representing the area could debate the issue during the special session. The government would take the decisions necessary to resolve people’s problems, he said.

Reacting to a question about former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s remark comparing the present government to a touring talkies, he said he would take comments made by Opposition parties sportingly. “What is wrong with that statement? Let them talk. Criticism is quite common in politics. If there are any suggestions, we will take them too,” he said.

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