Madikeri: The objections raised by the state government against the Kasturirangan report is deficient on many counts, proved counter-productive for the state, opined Kodagu MLAs K G Bopaiah and Appachu Ranjan.
When a state delegation from BJP met the Union Minister for Environment Hariprasad, he clarified that the Centre notified the Kasturirangan report after taking into account objections raised by the state government, MLA K G Bopaiah said while addressing the media at Madikeri on August 14.
Expressing serious displeasure against the state government over the way the critical issue was handled by it, MLA K G Bopaiah questioned the state government as to why the Kerala model of raising objections was not followed by taking the opinion of experts, elected representatives and people.
Let the state government take adequate caution while raising fresh set of objections next time within 2 years, said MLA Bopaiah and accused the forest minister of blindly following officialdom without possessing concrete information on the subject.
Let the chief minister accept the responsibility for the failure and resign instead of demanding resignation of BJP elected representatives, he said.
The government is resorting to wide propaganda tactics instead of releasing funds under the special package to wipe the tears of suffering, stated Bopaiah and added that the contractors were not coming forward to take up the development works fearing delay and non-payment of bills.
The forest department officials astute to taking actions against people felling a tree for own purpose fail to act when the forest wealth is being looted in broad day light, he accused.
It may be noted that according to the notification, about 20,668 square kilometres area in the state which includes 1,576 villages, has been declared eco-sensitive zone. The notification, if implemented, would not permit development works as change in land-use would not be allowed, thereby leading to ban on construction of schools, hospitals and roads in these villages. It may also lead to farmers not being granted land rights and would also affect the existing plantations like coffee and tea.
MLA Appachu Ranjan, speaking on the occasion, charged the state government of neglecting tribal welfare. Accusing the government of releasing only Rs 41 Crore during 4 years out of the allotted yearly package amount of Rs 50 Crore. He claimed the BJP government used to release the funds in the same year.
Both the MLAs decided not to take part in the meeting of elected representatives from Cauvery basin areas accusing the government of total neglect of Kodagu district.
There are around 1500 wild elephants with 300 walking free in estates areas due to non-availability of food in the forest, according to a government report. The government has failed to tackle the problem of elephants entering human habitat and will support if it proposes to plant trees for the survival of herbivorous animals, he said. In such circumstances, the MLAs assured of getting union environment ministry’s nod to cut down other trees inside the forest, MLA Ranjan assured.
Pat for Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa
The government has issued an order to regularise 6015.20 acres of land falling under C and D categories and the credit goes to State Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, MLA Ranjan said appreciating the efforts of the octogenarian.
In all, 3032 applicants will get land rights for 4368.20 acres of land in Somwarpet taluk, 523 applicants for 1249 acres in Madikeri and 114 applicants for 488 acres in Virajpet , MLA Ranjan clarified.
