Gadgil report may adversely affect Kodagu, say planters
By implementing the Gadgil report regarding the conservation of Western Ghats, Kodagu will be affected adversely.
The issue is convinced to Committe headed by Prof Kasturirangan and a memorandum has been submitted by Kodagu district Planters Association on behalf of small planters association and Kodagu Planters Association, said coffee planter M M Thimmayya addressing presspersons on Wednesday.
The Gadgil report has recommended to announce the Kogadu forest land as very sensitive environment zone in the name of bio-diversity conservation. According to the report, the Western Ghat lies within the bounderies of 41 districts of two States including Karnataka. The report has insisted on converting all agruiculture into oganic farming and to impose a ban on all agricultutral activities, industry and mining.
Thimmayya said that in Kodagu, the economy is dependent on agriculture and the committee has been convinced that no anti-environmental activities such as mining are carried out in the district.
In this region, only agriculture and gardening should be taken as samples, thus conserving the forests so that it will not adversely effect the economy of the localites, he suggested.
Many of the South Indian rivers originate from Western Ghats and local people have not harmed these river sources. In this regard, the Government should take special care for the protection of these people, he requested.
District Small Planters Association office-bearer Cheranda Nanda Subbayya told that no public interest is addressed in Gadgil report and no meetings are held in Kodagu in this regard.
The report only reflects the opinion of few people who participated in the meeting held ouside the district.
The responsibility of including corrections regarding the Gadgil report implementation is being handed to Werstern Ghats Task Force President Anantha Hegade Ashisara by the State Government which is not fair, he said.
He said that more information will be submitted to Prof Kasturirangan headed committee and he expressed beleif that the committee will respond to the plea.
Karnataka Planters Association former Vice President Nanda Ganapathi and Kodagu Coffee Planters Association office-bearer Ponnimada Subramani were present.
