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The decision came after a notification from the Union government to declare 1,276 villages located in 33 taluks of the state ‘eco sensitive regions’ by prohibiting development activities even though some villages consist of only 20% or less forest area of the Western Ghats. The area from Belagavi to Dakshina Kannada will come under the purview of the report.
The state government has declared many forest areas as reserved forests and sanctuaries to protect the bio diversity in the region. Therefore, it has consulted the respective grama panchayats and local bodies and they have opined that the report would turn into a hurdle for development activities in the respective regions, said State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs T B Jayachandra after a meeting in the state capital on Wednesday.
The state government has objected to the report as it also adversely affects the interests of the farmers residing in regions coming under Western Ghats.