Karnataka Convenes Emergency Session: Battle Over Drought and Western Ghats Heats Up

Karnataka is bracing for a critical three-day special legislative session from September 21st to 23rd, 2026, called to tackle two burning issues: a severe, decades-worst drought gripping the state and the contentious Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats conservation. This rare move by the state government signals the urgency of these challenges, which are impacting millions of lives and livelihoods across Karnataka. The drought situation is dire, with Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara confirming it's one of the worst since 1976, if not 150 years, leading to crippling agriculture, falling groundwater levels, and rural migration. Over 101 taluks have already been declared drought-affected for Kharif 2026, and the state is preparing a detailed memorandum to seek urgent relief from the Central Government, having already allocated substantial funds for drinking water and fodder. Simultaneously, the Kasturirangan report, which proposes declaring vast stretches of the Western Ghats as Eco-Sensitive Area, remains a flashpoint. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) recently issued its seventh draft notification on July 27, 2026, reigniting Karnataka's long-standing opposition due to fears it will severely impact local communities and their livelihoods. This special session is crucial for Karnataka to solidify its stance and communicate its deep concerns, especially regarding the Centre's 'anti-people' approach to the Kasturirangan report, which the state has rejected multiple times. Observers will be watching closely for legislative outcomes that could shape the state's environmental policy, its relief efforts, and potentially escalate the Centre-state tussle over federalism and regional development versus ecological preservation.