Sringeri town in Chikkamagaluru district in Karnataka came to a standstill yesterday as several farmers’ organisations and local groups staged a 12-hour strike against the Kasturirangan Report.
A farmers’ community that rallied around the project has been vocal in opposing it, with farmers, traders and residents who worry the report is harmful to their livelihoods in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.
The bandh was led by Sringeri Constituency Farmers’ Federation and supported by various farmers’ associations in the district. Protesters have said the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report will put severe restrictions on land use and development in the Western Ghats in the area, and it will affect thousands of families who depend on agriculture and other jobs to survive.
Farmers and local leaders expressed concern that if the recommendations are implemented, people living in the region would find it very difficult to carry out agricultural work, build houses and undertake development projects.
The protesting groups said the report is “unscientific” and can have significant repercussions for the socio-economic health of the Western Ghats belt’s people. Demonstrators said environmental conservation measures should not be at the cost of people's livelihoods and that the government should not carry out the report without addressing the public’s concerns.
During the bandh, shops and commercial establishments in Sringeri remained shut down. Many markets had no activity and trade went quiet. The usually bustling temple town was left empty as roads were not moving.
The bandh had an effect on the education sector as well. Private schools and colleges in the area declared a holiday in the midst of the bandh, and parents and students were told not to travel. School officials said transportation problems and the possibility of disruption were reasons for them to cancel classes for the day.
Protest organisers also appealed to tourists and pilgrims to postpone their visits to Sringeri during the bandh period. Sringeri, renowned for the beautiful Sharada Peetham and spiritual significance, draws a large number of visitors all year round. But activists asked tourists to join the protest and not to go into the city and to stay off until normalcy was restored.
The agitation comes at a time when the government has started making public efforts to seek public opinion on the implementation of the Kasturirangan Report. The consultative process has already led to a debate in several districts of Karnataka in the Western Ghats region in which environmental regulations and livelihood issues are still at the forefront of the public debate.
According to the report’s supporters, it is critical to safeguard the fragile ecology of the Western Ghats, which is one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world. However, the report could place excessive restrictions on local people and create long-term economic hardships.
The bandh in Sringeri reflects the increasing anxiety among farmers and residents about the future effects of the proposed measures. Protest leaders have said that if their concerns are not addressed, larger demonstrations could be organised across the region in the coming weeks.
With the issue still generating strong reactions, all eyes are now on the state government and what it will do with the consultation process and the future of the Kasturirangan Report in Karnataka.
