<p>The people of Kodagu should unite and fight against the pseudo environmentalists who have been conspiring to include Western Ghats in world heritage site list, said former MLC A K Subbaiah. <br /><br />Speaking at a discussion organised by Kodagu Swabhimani Samrakshana Vedike on Friday, he said “people in Kodagu should have knowledge on pros and cons of including Kodagu in the world heritage site list. We need not give our right over land to others. There is an immediate need to create awareness against world heritage site.” <br /><br />Those who are demanding World Heritage site tag to Western Ghats should provide right to the forest dwellers under Forest Rights Act. It was former Chief Minister S M Krishna who initiated the move to include Western Ghats under world heritage site in 2002, keeping elected representatives and local residents in dark. There was no open discussion on the proposal of world heritage site. The pseudo environmentalists are trying to get hefty foreign funding through the proposal for world heritage site tag to Western Ghats, he alleged. <br /><br />Nationalise timber<br /><br />He said “there is a need to nationalise timber business. As many as 16 revenue hoblis in the district come under Western Ghats. If the proposal on world heritage tag is approved, then it would cause inconvenience to the tribals. In case the Kodagu district is declared as Forest land, then we will have to come out of the district,” he said. <br /><br />By opposing the world heritage site tag to Western Ghats, the BJP led state government has done a commendable job. The Congress leaders are against the proposal in Kodagu.<br />DCC President B T Pradeep said “we need to preserve forest in 30 per cent of the total land. Forest covers about 70 to 80 per cent of the land in Kodagu,”<br /><br />Criminal case<br /><br />Zilla Panchayat President Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa said there was a need to file criminal case against pseudo environmentalist. <br /><br />Vedike Convenor Pandanda Naresh, CPM’s Dr Durgaprasad, C M Kaveriappa, Siddapura Growers’ Association Vice-President Nanda Subbaiah and others were present. </p>.<p>I will resign, says Ranjan<br /><br />MLA M P Appachu Ranjan said that he along with Zilla Panchayat President and members would tender resignation if the state government takes a decision against the interest of the people of Kodagu with regard to world heritage site list. <br /><br />He said that elected representatives from Kodagu were successful in pressurising the government to take a decision against world heritage site. <br /><br />Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah will convene a meeting to solve the row over Jamma Baane and tree right ownership within 15 days. </p>.<p>Decisions<br /><br />The decisions taken at the meeting are as follows;<br /><br />* All the Gram Panchayats, TPs and Zilla Panchayat should resolve to take a decision against world heritage site proposal; <br />* The government should see that it will not take any decision which is against the interest of the locals. <br />* No resorts should come up in Western Ghats; <br />* NGOs should take permission from the Zilla Panchayat before undertaking any study related to environment; <br />*CBI should probe into inflow of foreign funds to environmentalists; <br />* Uniform law should be implemented on tree right ownership; <br />* Row over Jamma and Bane land should be solved within three months; <br />* Forest Rights Act should be implemented effectively. </p>
<p>The people of Kodagu should unite and fight against the pseudo environmentalists who have been conspiring to include Western Ghats in world heritage site list, said former MLC A K Subbaiah. <br /><br />Speaking at a discussion organised by Kodagu Swabhimani Samrakshana Vedike on Friday, he said “people in Kodagu should have knowledge on pros and cons of including Kodagu in the world heritage site list. We need not give our right over land to others. There is an immediate need to create awareness against world heritage site.” <br /><br />Those who are demanding World Heritage site tag to Western Ghats should provide right to the forest dwellers under Forest Rights Act. It was former Chief Minister S M Krishna who initiated the move to include Western Ghats under world heritage site in 2002, keeping elected representatives and local residents in dark. There was no open discussion on the proposal of world heritage site. The pseudo environmentalists are trying to get hefty foreign funding through the proposal for world heritage site tag to Western Ghats, he alleged. <br /><br />Nationalise timber<br /><br />He said “there is a need to nationalise timber business. As many as 16 revenue hoblis in the district come under Western Ghats. If the proposal on world heritage tag is approved, then it would cause inconvenience to the tribals. In case the Kodagu district is declared as Forest land, then we will have to come out of the district,” he said. <br /><br />By opposing the world heritage site tag to Western Ghats, the BJP led state government has done a commendable job. The Congress leaders are against the proposal in Kodagu.<br />DCC President B T Pradeep said “we need to preserve forest in 30 per cent of the total land. Forest covers about 70 to 80 per cent of the land in Kodagu,”<br /><br />Criminal case<br /><br />Zilla Panchayat President Shantheyanda Ravi Kushalappa said there was a need to file criminal case against pseudo environmentalist. <br /><br />Vedike Convenor Pandanda Naresh, CPM’s Dr Durgaprasad, C M Kaveriappa, Siddapura Growers’ Association Vice-President Nanda Subbaiah and others were present. </p>.<p>I will resign, says Ranjan<br /><br />MLA M P Appachu Ranjan said that he along with Zilla Panchayat President and members would tender resignation if the state government takes a decision against the interest of the people of Kodagu with regard to world heritage site list. <br /><br />He said that elected representatives from Kodagu were successful in pressurising the government to take a decision against world heritage site. <br /><br />Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah will convene a meeting to solve the row over Jamma Baane and tree right ownership within 15 days. </p>.<p>Decisions<br /><br />The decisions taken at the meeting are as follows;<br /><br />* All the Gram Panchayats, TPs and Zilla Panchayat should resolve to take a decision against world heritage site proposal; <br />* The government should see that it will not take any decision which is against the interest of the locals. <br />* No resorts should come up in Western Ghats; <br />* NGOs should take permission from the Zilla Panchayat before undertaking any study related to environment; <br />*CBI should probe into inflow of foreign funds to environmentalists; <br />* Uniform law should be implemented on tree right ownership; <br />* Row over Jamma and Bane land should be solved within three months; <br />* Forest Rights Act should be implemented effectively. </p>
