The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- Minister B. Eshwar Khandre reported that 16,000 square kilometers of the 20,668 square kilometers identified as an Ecologically Sensitive Area in Karnataka are already protected as forests.
- The minister argued that 1,449 villages across 10 districts should be excluded from this designation to prevent negative impacts on local livelihoods.
- Officials criticized the central committee for failing to visit these communities before finalizing reports.
- Protecting the Western Ghats remains a priority for the state due to their role in regional river systems.
What to watch next
- Negotiations between the Karnataka state government and the central government regarding the exclusion of villages from the ESA draft
- Further responses from the central government committee regarding site visits and community consultations
Who said what3
Only words found exactly in the article are shown, attributed and linked to the line they came from.
B. Eshwar Khandre
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister
2 quotes · 1 outlet
“Of the total 20,668 sq. km of land that has been identified as ESA in Karnataka, about 16,000 sq. km of area is part of tiger reserves or reserved/protect forests”
In the article
…the Forest portfolio, on Monday, pointed out that 80% of the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA), whose draft had been notified by the Centre, was already part of either a tiger reserve or a reserved/protected forest. “ Of the total 20,668 sq. km of land that has been identified as ESA in Karnataka, about 16,000 sq. km of area is part of tiger reserves or reserved/protect forests ,” the Minister told the Assembly during the debate on the Kasturirangan report. “The concern now is that, apart from the 16,000 sq. km, 1,449 villages coming under 10 districts have also figured in the ESA. We need to…
“The concern now is that, apart from the 16,000 sq. km, 1,449 villages coming under 10 districts have also figured in the ESA. We need to convince the Centre to drop these villages from the ESA”
In the article
…of land that has been identified as ESA in Karnataka, about 16,000 sq. km of area is part of tiger reserves or reserved/protect forests,” the Minister told the Assembly during the debate on the Kasturirangan report. “ The concern now is that, apart from the 16,000 sq. km, 1,449 villages coming under 10 districts have also figured in the ESA. We need to convince the Centre to drop these villages from the ESA ,” he said. He pointed out that the ESA for the neighbouring Keralam had been reduced from the earlier 13,000 sq. km to 9,900 sq. km now, to ensure that the livelihood of people was not affected. Mr. Khandre alleged…
A.S. Ponnanna
Congress member
1 quote · 1 outlet
“The bone of contention is the cultural landscape, as this has been decided without consulting people or visiting the affected area”
In the article
…rivers take their origin in these Ghats. Congress member A.S. Ponnanna expressed concern that 46.5% of the Western Ghats area in Karnataka had been categorised as ESA in the draft notification issued by the Centre. “ The bone of contention is the cultural landscape, as this has been decided without consulting people or visiting the affected area ,” he said. Published - September 21, 2026 09:19 pm IST…
Coverage1
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Named India · Karnataka · Kerala · Western Ghats · A.S. Ponnanna · B. Eshwar Khandre · Kasturirangan Committee · Sanjay Kumar
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