D.K. Shivakumar Backs Traditional Cultivators Amid Kasturirangan Report Debate

The long-running debate over the Kasturirangan Report and the protection of the Western Ghats has entered another important phase in Karnataka.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a public interaction in Tirthahalli, Shivamogga district, on September 19, 2026, bringing farmers, local residents, environmental stakeholders and other representatives into the discussion over the proposed Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Area.

The immediate concern for many residents is simple: How can the Western Ghats be protected without creating uncertainty for people who have traditionally cultivated land and lived in the region?

The Karnataka government has opposed implementation of the Kasturirangan recommendations in their present form, while the Union government's draft notification continues to propose environmental regulation across large parts of the Western Ghats.

Reports surrounding the Tirthahalli consultation said Shivakumar assured traditional cultivators that their concerns would be considered and instructed officials to avoid unnecessary action against genuine cultivators while the issue is being addressed.

At the same time, it is important to understand that the Kasturirangan Report itself and the Union government's draft ESA notification are not the same thing as an order to evict residents. The current debate involves land classification, environmental regulation, forest enforcement, development restrictions, local livelihoods and the finalisation of the proposed ESA.

The Kasturirangan Report is a 2013 recommendation on protecting the ecologically important Western Ghats. It proposed identifying around 37% of the Western Ghats' natural landscape as ecologically sensitive.

For Karnataka, the current 2026 draft proposal covers approximately 20,668 sq km across 10 districts, according to the Karnataka government's reported position on the Centre's seventh draft notification.

The debate has intensified because Karnataka argues that implementation could create additional restrictions affecting communities and development in the Malnad and Western Ghats region. The Union government's draft, however, focuses on regulating or prohibiting specified environmentally intensive activities rather than automatically removing ordinary residents.

Bottom line: The present issue is primarily about how the proposed Eco-Sensitive Area should be defined and regulated, and how conservation should be balanced with the rights and livelihoods of local communities.

What Happened at the Tirthahalli Consultation?

D.K. Shivakumar Meets Western Ghats Stakeholders

The Tirthahalli meeting was organised as a direct consultation over the Kasturirangan Report.

The discussion brought attention to concerns from people living in the Malnad region, including:

• Farmers and traditional cultivators
• Local residents
• Plantation owners
• Environmental groups
• Public representatives
• Local organisations
• Forest-related stakeholders

The purpose of such consultations is particularly significant because the Western Ghats are both an ecologically important landscape and a lived-in region with agriculture, plantations, roads, settlements and local economic activity.

What Assurance Was Reported?

Reports from the consultation said Shivakumar assured traditional cultivators that the government would stand by them and directed the Forest Department not to issue eviction notices to traditional cultivators in the context under discussion.

This assurance needs to be understood alongside existing laws and land records. A political or administrative assurance does not by itself change statutory land ownership, forest boundaries, encroachment laws or rights recognised under applicable legislation.

Therefore, individual land cases still depend on their legal and factual status.

What Is the Kasturirangan Report?

Background

The Kasturirangan Committee was constituted by the Union government to examine conservation and sustainable development in the Western Ghats.

The committee submitted its report in 2013.

Its approach differed from the earlier Gadgil Committee approach by relying substantially on landscape-level identification of ecologically sensitive areas and distinguishing between natural landscapes and cultural landscapes.

The report identified approximately 59,940 sq km, or around 37% of the Western Ghats' natural landscape, as ecologically sensitive across six states.

Those states are:

The figures above relate to the Kasturirangan/High Level Working Group framework and should not be confused with every later draft notification, because state-level revisions and physical verification have affected subsequent proposals.

Why Is Karnataka Opposing the Report?

Karnataka's objections have largely centred on the possible consequences for communities and development in the Western Ghats.

The state has argued that large areas proposed for ESA status include inhabited villages, agricultural land and plantations.

The latest draft proposal identifies approximately 20,668 sq km in Karnataka, covering parts of 10 districts.

These include:

• Belagavi
• Chamarajanagar
• Chikkamagaluru
• Kodagu
• Hassan
• Uttara Kannada
• Dakshina Kannada
• Mysuru
• Shivamogga
• Udupi

The state has also raised concerns about possible effects on:

• Agriculture
• Plantation activities
• Roads
• Housing and construction
• Tourism
• Local infrastructure
• Rural development
• Livelihoods

The Karnataka government has communicated its opposition to implementing the Kasturirangan recommendations in their present form.

Does the Kasturirangan Report Mean Farmers Will Be Evicted?

A Crucial Distinction

This is one of the most important questions in the entire debate.

An ESA proposal does not automatically mean that every farmer or resident inside the proposed area will be evicted.

The Union government's earlier draft notification framework explicitly stated that local people living in habitations within the proposed Western Ghats ESA would not be displaced and that agriculture and plantation activity would not be affected merely because of the ESA provisions.

The current 2026 draft also distinguishes between prohibited or regulated activities and ordinary livelihood activities.

According to the Karnataka government's reported explanation of the latest draft, agriculture and plantation development are not specifically prohibited except where an activity falls within a prohibited category.

Why, then, are farmers concerned?

Because ESA status can affect the regulatory environment surrounding:

• Mining
• Quarrying
• Sand mining
• Large construction projects
• Industrial development
• Thermal power projects
• Township development
• Certain infrastructure activities

Local communities therefore want clarity about how these restrictions could affect future development and individual land-use decisions.

What Does the 2026 Draft Western Ghats ESA Proposal Say?

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change published a new draft notification for the Western Ghats on July 27, 2026.

The current proposal covers approximately 56,825.7 sq km across six states, according to published details concerning the draft.

The Karnataka component is approximately 20,668 sq km.

Major activities proposed for regulation or prohibition include:

• Mining
• Quarrying
• Sand mining
• Certain industrial activities
• New thermal power projects
• Expansion of specified categories of industries
• Certain large-scale construction and township projects

The draft does not simply declare every activity inside the proposed ESA illegal.

That distinction is important when discussing its possible impact on farmers.

Kasturirangan Report vs 2026 Draft ESA Proposal

Why Are Traditional Cultivators at the Centre of the Debate?

Traditional cultivators have a different concern from large industrial developers.

A farmer may have lived on and cultivated land for decades or generations and depend on that land for household income.

For such communities, uncertainty about land classification can raise questions such as:

• Can agricultural activity continue?
• Can a house be repaired or expanded?
• Can an existing plantation continue?
• Can roads and electricity infrastructure be developed?
• Will forest officials issue notices?
• What happens if land records are disputed?
• How will genuine forest-dwelling communities' rights be protected?
• Will future development require additional environmental approvals?

These questions explain why public consultation has become an important part of the Karnataka government's response.

Forest Encroachment and Kasturirangan ESA Are Not the Same Issue

Another important distinction is between ESA regulation and forest encroachment enforcement.

An ESA designation concerns environmental regulation within a defined geographical area.

Forest encroachment proceedings, by contrast, involve questions concerning the legal status and occupation of particular land.

Therefore:

ESA ≠ automatic eviction

and

ESA status ≠ automatic ownership of land by the occupant.

Each individual land dispute can involve separate legal questions, including revenue records, forest records, title documents, recognised forest rights and applicable court or government orders.

What Does the Forest Rights Act Mean for Eligible Forest Dwellers?

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as the Forest Rights Act, provides a legal framework for recognising specified forest rights of eligible forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

One important safeguard under the Act concerns eviction or removal before the recognition and verification process is completed.

However, eligibility and rights under the Forest Rights Act depend on the statutory requirements and the recognition process. The law should therefore not be interpreted as granting automatic ownership to every person cultivating forest land.

This distinction is particularly relevant when discussing forest notices and the concerns raised by residents.

What Are the Main Arguments in the Kasturirangan Debate?

Concerns Raised by Farmers and Local Communities

Local communities and Karnataka political representatives have raised concerns that additional environmental restrictions could affect:

• Farming
• Plantations
• Infrastructure
• Rural housing
• Tourism
• Roads
• Local economic development

They have also sought greater clarity about boundaries and physical verification.

Environmental Conservation Perspective

The other side of the discussion focuses on the ecological importance of the Western Ghats.

The Western Ghats support rich biodiversity, forests, rivers and important ecological systems. The Kasturirangan framework was developed because the region faces pressures from development and land-use changes.

Environmental stakeholders have therefore argued for stronger protection of ecologically sensitive landscapes.

The policy challenge is how to establish effective conservation while protecting legitimate community rights and sustainable livelihoods.

Karnataka's 20,668-Sq-Km Proposal Explained

The Karnataka portion of the proposal is significant because it represents the largest state-level component of the Western Ghats ESA framework.

Key figures

Earlier versions of the Kasturirangan framework referred to 1,576 villages in Karnataka. The current 2026 draft identifies a different village count, illustrating why readers should always check the latest notification rather than relying on older figures circulating online.

Why Tirthahalli Matters

Tirthahalli is located in the Malnad region of Shivamogga district, an area closely associated with the Western Ghats landscape.

The region includes:

• Agricultural communities
• Plantation activity
• Forest landscapes
• Rural settlements
• Ecologically sensitive areas
• Tourism interests
• Water and watershed systems

A consultation in Tirthahalli therefore gives policymakers an opportunity to hear directly from communities living within the affected landscape.

Expert Commentary: What the Policy Documents Actually Show

The most useful way to understand the controversy is to read the policy documents alongside political statements.

The High Level Working Group's original framework did not simply call for the removal of residents. Its broader objective was to protect ecological systems while allowing sustainable development and taking account of local and indigenous communities.

Likewise, successive Union draft notifications have focused on regulating activities considered particularly damaging to fragile ecosystems.

This means the central policy question is not simply “farmers versus environment.”

It is more accurately:

How should environmental restrictions be designed so that critical ecosystems are protected while lawful agriculture, community rights and essential local development are not unnecessarily disrupted?

That is the question policymakers, courts, environmental experts and local communities continue to debate.

Pros and Cons of the Proposed ESA Approach

Potential Environmental Benefits

• Greater protection for fragile ecosystems
• Tighter controls on environmentally damaging industries
• Better scrutiny of large development projects
• Protection of biodiversity
• Reduced pressure from mining and quarrying
• Stronger long-term watershed protection
   

Potential Community Concerns

• Regulatory uncertainty for landowners
• Additional approvals for certain projects
• Concerns over infrastructure development
• Fear of action in disputed forest-land cases
• Uncertainty around future construction
• Concerns about tourism and local economic activity

These are competing policy considerations rather than evidence that one side's concerns automatically outweigh the other.

What Happens Next?

The Western Ghats issue is likely to continue through multiple stages.

Step 1: Public consultation

Local communities, governments and other stakeholders can submit concerns and suggestions concerning the draft.

Step 2: State-level review

Karnataka can examine the proposed boundaries and restrictions and communicate its position to the Union government.

Step 3: Boundary and data verification

Questions regarding villages, land categories and geographical boundaries may require detailed verification.

Step 4: Union government consideration

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will consider objections and suggestions before deciding the next stage.

Step 5: Final notification

A draft notification should not be treated as a final legal notification until the government formally issues the final notification.

What Should Farmers Do if They Receive a Forest Notice?

People who receive a notice concerning alleged forest encroachment or land occupation should avoid relying only on verbal assurances.

A practical approach is:

1. Read the notice carefully.
2. Note the survey number and land description.
3. Collect title and revenue documents.
4. Obtain copies of relevant land records.
5. Check whether the land falls within a forest boundary.
6. If applicable, examine Forest Rights Act eligibility.
7. Respond within the prescribed period.
8. Seek qualified legal or revenue advice where necessary.
9. Keep copies of all representations submitted to authorities.
10. Do not ignore an official notice.

A political assurance or public statement does not automatically replace the legal procedure applicable to a particular parcel of land.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Kasturirangan Report?

The Kasturirangan Report is a 2013 report prepared by a High Level Working Group on conservation and sustainable development in the Western Ghats.

2. Why is the Kasturirangan Report controversial in Karnataka?

The controversy centres on concerns about how proposed ESA restrictions could affect farmers, plantations, infrastructure, construction, tourism and other activities in Western Ghats areas.

3. What did D.K. Shivakumar discuss in Tirthahalli?

Shivakumar held a public consultation concerning the Kasturirangan Report and heard concerns from farmers, local residents and other stakeholders.

4. Did Shivakumar promise protection for traditional cultivators?

Reports from the Tirthahalli consultation said Shivakumar assured traditional cultivators that their concerns would be protected and that the Forest Department should avoid eviction action against genuine traditional cultivators in the circumstances discussed.

5. Does the Kasturirangan Report automatically evict farmers?

No. An ESA proposal does not automatically mean that farmers or residents are evicted.

6. How much of Karnataka is proposed as an ESA?

The current 2026 draft identifies approximately 20,668 sq km in Karnataka.

7. Which Karnataka districts are included?

The current proposal covers parts of Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Udupi.

8. Are agricultural activities banned under the ESA proposal?

Agriculture is not generally listed as a prohibited activity under the draft. Restrictions focus on specified environmentally intensive activities.

9. Is plantation activity banned?

The Karnataka government's explanation of the draft states that plantation development is not specifically prohibited except where an activity falls within a prohibited category.

10. What activities face stronger restrictions?

Mining, quarrying, sand mining, certain industrial activities, thermal power projects and specified large construction or township projects are among the activities subject to restrictions under the draft framework.

11. What is the difference between ESA and forest encroachment?

ESA is an environmental regulatory designation. Forest encroachment concerns the legal status and occupation of specific land. They are related in some cases but are not the same legal issue.

12. What is the Forest Rights Act?

The Forest Rights Act, 2006 provides a framework for recognition of specified forest rights of eligible Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.

13. Is the 2026 Western Ghats notification final?

No. The July 27, 2026 document is a draft notification. Objections and suggestions are part of the process before a final decision.

14. Why is Tirthahalli important in the debate?

Tirthahalli is part of the Malnad region of Shivamogga and has communities whose livelihoods and land-use concerns are directly connected to the Western Ghats policy debate.

15. What should residents do if they receive an eviction notice?

They should examine the notice, collect land and revenue documents, verify the legal status of the land and obtain appropriate legal or administrative advice rather than ignoring the notice.

Key Takeaways

• The Kasturirangan Report dates back to 2013.
• Its objective is to strengthen conservation of ecologically sensitive portions of the Western Ghats.
• The current Union draft notification was issued on July 27, 2026.
• Around 20,668 sq km in Karnataka is included in the current proposal.
• The proposal covers parts of 10 Karnataka districts.
• Karnataka has expressed opposition to implementation in its current form.
• D.K. Shivakumar held a public consultation at Tirthahalli on September 19, 2026.
• Traditional cultivators have raised concerns about land security and Forest Department action.
• ESA status does not automatically mean mass eviction.
• Forest encroachment cases and ESA regulation are separate legal questions.
• The 2026 notification remains a draft and should not be treated as a final notification.
• Conservation and livelihood concerns are both central to the continuing debate.

Published on : 19th September

Published by : Shanlee JV 

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