‘Kasturirangan report is anti-environmental’

The recommendations of the Kasturirangan report are undemocratic and anti-environmental, said V.S. Vijayan, member of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP).

Addressing an awareness programme organised by various environmental and human rights organisations here on Thursday, he said the Kasturirangan report will pave the way for exploitation of ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats by mafia groups.

The Kasturirangan report was prepared without considering the opinions and concerns of the public.

It gives an opportunity for mafias to exploit ecologically sensitive areas of the Western Ghats. In fact, one should suspect that whether the committee has any agenda to sabotage the Gadgil report, Mr.Vijayan said.

He said the Madhav Gadgil report on Western Ghats was meant to promote sustainable development.

However, there has been many forces, which criticised the report saying it was against farmers and development.

The State government has the responsibility to clear the confusion about the Gadgil committee report, he said.

The coordination committee of various environmental and human rights organisations will circulate the summary of the Gadgil committee report to local bodies and libraries in the State.

It will take out a protest march to the Assembly on January 8.