The State government is in no mood to give the Western Ghats-Unesco tag matter a rest.
It has raised serious contentions against the Centre for taking the matter into its own hands and renominating the Ghats in this year’s Unesco Convention at St Petersberg, Russia, ignoring the ‘stiff opposition’ by the State government.
Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara said on Wednesday the State government would oppose the tag conferred on the Western Ghats by the Unesco’s World Heritage Committee.
Addressing mediapersons after discussions with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, he accused the Centre of taking a unilateral decision in getting the biodiversity hotspot a world heritage site status without considering the stand of the State government. The status would be accompanied by more guidelines and restrictions, which would clash with the existing laws, resulting in ‘unwanted confusion’, he added.
“We will write to the Centre, explaining the same. We have also decided not to sign the Unesco agreement. There is life in the Western Ghats, and it cannot be taken for granted. According to the guidelines of the Unesco, even sinking borewells or setting up cottage industries will require prior permission. The chief minister has consented to our decision,” said Yogeeshwara.
He said the opposition to the tag was not just from Karnataka. “Barring Gujarat and Goa, other five states housing the Ghats have opposed the tag. We do not wish to take hasty decisions; the matter needs to be approached and resolved scientifically.”
Yogeeshwara also claimed that the world heritage site status for the Western Ghats would hamper development activities in the region which could result in the risk of spurring naxal activities. “Unemployment will rise if development activities are stopped. Naxal and other illegal activities, which have made inroads into the region, can only aggravate,” he warned.
Western Ghats Task Force chairperson Ananth Hegde Ashisar said the chief minister had categorically said that henceforth no permission would be given to mining and mini-hydel projects in the Ghats.
He said the chief minister had agreed to include the task force recommendations in the 10th Year Working Plan.