Reject Kasturirangan report: Ramanath Rai asks Central govt

Mangaluru: “Union government should not implement the recommendations of the Kasturirangan Report, instead it should reject it,” said former state minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment B Ramanath Rai addressing media  on August 16^th.

“When I was the forest minister, I had written to Central government to reject the Kasturirangan report. The committee constituted by the Cabinet took opinions of all gram panchayats, people and advised to reject Kasturirangan report. Those who oppose implementation of the Kasturirangan report should join this protest, irrespective of their political affiliations,” said Mr. Rai.

“We also urged to review the ecological sensitive areas during the meeting in 2015. But the Central government has drafted the notification to implement the Kasturirangan report,” he added.

“Ecological sensitive area in this state is 30,573 sq km which is in excess of the requirement of 20,668 sq km. So it is better to reject this report at the earliest. Central government has the right to reject this. On the other hand, opposition leaders are alleging that state government has not responded to the notification, which shows that they lack information about the report. We always oppose this report and continue opposing it,” Rai said.

State Minister for Urban Development and Housing and District In charge minister U T Khader said,” After a heavy rainfall witnessed in the coast, a meeting will be held chaired by chief minister Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru with regard to the measures that can be taken and also to discuss to release relief funds.”