Madikeri: Expressing serious concerns over Kasturirangan report implementation, public protested in Birunani on a non-partisan basis, demanding the permanent cancellation of the draft notification of ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats issued by Union govt.The protesters said it will disrupt the daily lives of the people in the area. Led by Marenadu Citizens Forum, a protest march was held on the main street of Birunani town on Monday, expressing anger against the move.Speaking on the occasion, Marenadu Kodava Samaj president Annalamada Lala Appanna said that the cons of this project outweigh the pros. There will be no big projects like national highways, and gradually, the existence of people of this region will be neglected. There will be difficulties in using guns and keeping guns, which is integral part of Kodava culture. This will affect our culture and festivals. There will also be restrictions on bursting firecrackers during Puthari festival. If there is crop loss due to wild animals, or loss of life, compensation will not be provided, he claimed.Former gram panchayat president Buttiyanda Thambi Nanaiah said that if Kasturirangan report is implemented, it will cause a big problem for the agricultural activities.Meanwhile, environmental activist Ketolira Sunny Somaiah emphasised that the draft notification poses no threat to traditional farming or local agricultural practices. He said that resistance comes primarily from illegal encroachers, timber traders, sand and stone mining operators, real estate developers, and resort mafias. Adopting the report would serve as a vital protection for Kodagu land, Somaiah said.
