DK Shivakumar urges Centre to address Karnataka concerns over CZMP, Western Ghats ESA

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has pressed Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav to address the state's worries over the revision of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and the proposed Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) notification.

Key points

• In a letter to Yadav, Shivakumar who was at Delhi on Monday sought state-specific flexibility while ensuring ecological protection, livelihoods and development interests are balanced.
• On the Western Ghats ESA, Shivakumar reiterated reservations over the inclusion of agricultural lands, plantations, habitations and livelihood areas.
• He additionally called on the Centre to consider Karnataka's proposals through technical and GIS-based scrutiny, cadastral verification and field surveys.
• The CM sought survey-number-wise verification using authenticated revenue records, satellite imagery and ground verification.

On the CZMP, he remarked fishing communities, coastal residents, local bodies and public representatives had triggered concern over inaccuracies in CRZ classification, survey boundaries, settlements, fishing infrastructure and traditional livelihood areas in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada.

In practice, the CM sought survey-number-wise verification using authenticated revenue records, satellite imagery and ground verification. He has additionally sought recognition for traditional fishing infrastructure such as fish landing centres, boat repair facilities, net-mending areas and fish-processing units.

On the Western Ghats ESA, Shivakumar reiterated reservations over the inclusion of agricultural lands, plantations, habitations and livelihood areas. He stated Karnataka has proposed physical verification and scientific ground-truthing before finalisation.

He additionally called on the Centre to consider Karnataka's proposals through technical and GIS-based scrutiny, cadastral verification and field surveys. He additionally sought consultation with the State Administration and consideration of the High-Level Committee's recommendations before finalising the ESA notification.

For now, DK Shivakumar urges Centre to address Karnataka concerns over CZMP, Western Ghats remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.