Karnataka Rejects Centre's Forest Zone Plan, Demands Ground Survey for Farmers

Karnataka's legislature has unanimously rejected the Centre latest proposal to declare vast swathes of the Western Ghats as Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA), escalating a long-standing dispute over land use and environmental protection. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced the state will form a high-level committee led by a retired judge to conduct a detailed, ground-level survey, arguing the Centre notification is 'unscientific' and threatens local livelihoods. The state's strong stance comes in response to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change seventh draft ESA notification, issued on July 27, 2026, which identifies 20,668 sq km across 1,449 villages in 10 Karnataka districts as eco-sensitive. Karnataka argues that relying solely on satellite imagery, as the Kasturirangan Report-based drafts do, fails to distinguish between forests, agricultural lands, plantations, and human settlements, potentially displacing thousands and affecting property rights and basic infrastructure. This marks a continuation of Karnataka's repeated rejections of such drafts since 2004, highlighting a persistent tension between national conservation goals and local development concerns. The newly proposed committee will undertake a village-wise and survey-number-wise physical survey, aiming to scientifically demarcate different land uses and suggest modifications within a year. Additionally, an all-party delegation will press the Centre for a moratorium on the notification until the state's comprehensive survey is complete, possibly involving a senior Supreme Court lawyer to advocate Karnataka's position. This move sets the stage for a critical negotiation, balancing the urgent need to protect the biodiversity of the Western Ghats with the survival and rights of its long-time residents.