ಕೊಡಗು ಮತ್ತು ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಗಿದ ನೆರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಭೂಕುಸಿತ: ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ನಿಸರ್ಗದತ್ತ ಸಂಪತ್ತನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಪತ್ರಮನವಿ.

People’s representation regarding the sustainable harnessing of our natural resources – the context of recent rain related disasters in KodaguView this email in your browser

ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆಯ ಕೃಪೆಗಾಗಿ / For favour of publication

An Open Letter to Chief Minister, Karnataka

People’s representation regarding the sustainable harnessing of our natural resources – the context of recent rain related disasters in Kodagu

Dated, 7th September, 2018

To
The Honorable Chief Minister
Govt. of Karnataka, Bengaluru

Dear Sir,

Subject: The critical need to protect our natural resources in general and Western Ghats in particular: the context of death and destruction to properties in Kodagu/Malenadu due to recent floods/land slides

We, the undersigned residents of the state who are deeply concerned about the potential death and destruction facing our communities as happened in the recent case of floods and landslides in Kodagu district, would like to reiterate various appeals by the civil society groups to take all the necessary preventive measures to minimize such hardships to our people in future.

1. The floods and landslides, leading to massive damages to the life and property in Kodagu district and the state of Kerala in August this year were without doubt, a terrible calamity.  While we empathies with the affected communities, we also notice that it is the considered opinion of many knowledgeable people that the hand of man through deforestation, illegal sand mining & quarrying and concretization, and various kinds of infringement in the natural eco-system have all played a major part in the immense devastation seen in Kodagu district, in addition to the intense and heavy rains over a short period.

2. Perhaps every media house, both print and electronic, have focused on this crisis discussing the causes and the remedial measures. Only few of such media coverage are referred to here.
—————————————————————————–
ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ   ರಾಜಕಾರಣ ಮತ್ತ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಮತೋಲನ http://avadhimag.com/?p=202768
——————————————————————————-
https://www.prajavani.net/columns/vignana-vishesha/vignana-vishesha-column-567737.html
——————————————————————————————–
‘Urbanisation caused floods in Kerala, K’tka’: IIT-B
https://www.deccanherald.com/national/flood-south-karnataka-kerala-688578.html
“Flood is a consequence to unplanned growth in the river plain. What happened to Kerala and south Karnataka this time can also be blamed
to unplanned urbanisation to a large extent. So much of unplanned development took place in the periphery of Periyar river in Kerala
damaging the floodplain,”
—————————————————————————————————————————–
Kodagu distress: How rampant deforestation and tourism led landslides and floods https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kodagu-distress-how-rampant-deforestation-and-tourism-led-landslides-and-floods-86924
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Kodagu landslips a result of natural and man-made causes
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kodagu-landslips-a-result-of-natural-and-man-made-causes/article24754480.ece
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Climate change can trigger more devastating floods in India: UK charity https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/climate-change-can-trigger-more-devastating-floods-in-india-uk- charity/65530118
—————————————————————-
Goa next after Kerala, warn environmentalists
https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Goa-next-after-Kerala-warn-environmentalists/134965.html
The destruction of eco-sensitive areas (ESA) in the guise of eco-tourism, infringement into no-development zones (NDZ) across coastal belts,
filling up mangroves and haphazard development might lead to a Kerala-flood like situation in Goa, warn environmentalists.
——————————————————————-
His 2011 report ignored, Gadgil’s fears come true
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/his-2011-report-ignored-gadgil-s-fears-come-true/639920.html —————————————————————————————————————-
Kerala crisis arose due to destruction of ecologically-sensitive zones in Western Ghats https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/crisis-arose-due-to-destruction-of-ecologically-sensitive-zones-in- western-ghats/articleshow/65474577.cms?utm_source=ETMyNews&utm_medium=ASMN&utm_campaign=AL1&utm_content=9
————————————————
Western Ghats and Kerala calamity https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/western-ghats-and-kerala-688581.html
—————————————————————–
Kerala wake-up call on growth and development http://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/220818/kerala-wake-up-call-on-growth-and-development.html
–––—–––––—–––—–––—–––––—–––—–––—–––––—––––––
Kerala floods: global warming in action https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/perspective/kerala-floods-global-warming-688894.html
——————————————————————————————————–

3. All these reports and analysis have come to two common conclusions: (i) a part of the crisis was man-made; some even consider it as a major factor; (ii) in view of the increased risks due to the phenomenon of Climate Change, the death and destruction due to heavy rains and floods are likely to be much more unless remedial actions are not taken on a war-footing; but the same can be minimised in future by an integrated approach to the twin goals of emancipation of the poor communities and the sustainable harnessing of the natural resources.

We would like to highlight some of the associated issues, as below.

4.   A well-known environmental scientist, Prof. Madhav Gadgil, who led a panel (WGEEP) that published a report in 2011 on environmental protection in the Western Ghats, says that at least a part of the recent crisis in Kerala is man-made.  He says that the overexploitation of natural resources has left the area with poor natural defences to cope with heavy rainfall. “Had proper steps been taken, the scale of the tragedy would have been nowhere near what has resulted… Illegal stone quarrying had made flooding worse”.  The Gadgil panel report had called for government intervention to curb activities such as quarrying, mining, land clearance or construction in ecologically-sensitive zones such as those close to riverbanks.  We note with deep sadness that the death and destruction of poor people occurred despite such clear and credible recommendations, basically because the successive governments in Karnataka and Kerala ignored them.

5. There is enough evidence that the ecologically sensitive region of Western Ghats has undergone unbridled development. The destruction of green cover in the Western Ghats, the unscientific and indiscriminate diversion of rivers, illegal occupation of flood plains, the pollution and deterioration of wetlands and water bodies have all made this rich biodiversity zone extremely vulnerable.  The Western Ghats, one of the eight mega biodiversity regions in the world, is reported to be experiencing long-term implications of undesirable agricultural practices and rapidly changing climate in the form of soil nutrient decline, the reduction of soil’s water retention capacity and a rapid loss of unique biodiversity.   It is widely believed that some good environmental conservation and sustainable livelihood practices in the region will help conserve its biodiversity, and minimise such mishaps in the future.

6. Unfettered development activities in the Western Ghats have led to the increased chances of landslides, a major cause of casualties during the floods. The Gadgil report had found the highest number of vulnerable zones in Kerala among all the Western Ghat states. It should ring a bell to note that Kodagu also was similarly affected by land landslides. It is a harsh reality that maximum damage was also in such sensitive areas of Kerala and Kodagu. Several other credible reports, such as the one by Dr. Kasturirangan’s committee, had come to similar conclusions emphasising the critical need to ensure sustainable harnessing of natural resources. 7.  The scenario which led to the multiple crises in Kerala and the district of Kodagu should be a stern warning to the entire state of Karnataka, because the state also can be said to be moving in the direction of unbridled development in Western Ghats, as in the case of Kerala. We cannot afford not to learn from the mistakes, which occurred in Kerala and also in Kodagu.

8. Wetlands, the water regime regulators, are also reported to be under serious threat in Karnataka. It is reported that Kerala has seen a loss in the area under wetlands or paddy lands which acted as a sink during the rainy season— from 7.53 lakh hectares in 1961-62 to 2.76 lakh hectares in 2005-06 and to 1.61 lakh hectares in 2015-16, as per the National Wetland Atlas Kerala, MoEF&CC.  Karnataka too is known to be losing such wetlands rapidly, as in the case of the loss of a number of lakes in Bengaluru, Kolara and Chikkaballapura leading to water shortage in these districts. Wetlands have been lost to development projects, construction of roads and buildings at places too close to rivers, and lakes.  It should be highlighted here that the Kochi international airport, which was built after reclaiming a paddy field and which lies within two kM of the Periyar river had to be closed due to the recent floods.  Our communities in Karnataka too will face such devastating threats, unless our relevant policies and practices change for better.  Since more than 52% of the land area in Karnataka is officially known to be drought prone, the associated issues can be even more serious for the state if we objectively consider the multi-dimensional perspective of water resources.

9.    Ecological  experts  are  of  the  considered  view  that  an integrated  watershed  approach that envisages the identification, delineation and adequate protection of macro and micro watersheds is the need of the hour.  An integrated development plan for each macro or micro watershed covering all relevant areas such as soil conservation, agriculture, horticulture, afforestation, animal husbandry, sericulture, etc. through people’s participation should be taken.

10. The integration of scientific knowledge with traditional wisdom of the people of the Western Ghats would help to develop technologies and/or action-plans which are need-based, cost-effective, convincing and credible to the local people. This indigenous knowledge has been acquired & perfected over decades/centuries, and treasured by the local communities and the tribal, particularly those living in and around the forests and agro-ecosystems.

11. We recognise that it will not be easy for the state government to take such positive steps, given the prevailing wrong perception that human development pressures have to take a priority over the protection of the Western Ghats ecology.  But an overall perspective of the true welfare of our communities should indicate that the welfare of humans cannot be ensured without the adequate protection of critical elements of the nature.  The govt. should not only commit itself to this reality but also should steadfastly strive to implement the same effectively and also to educate the larger population on this imperative.

12. The issue of allowing extractive industries such as quarrying and mining to operate is arguably the most contentious. A satisfactory way out could be to create the regulatory framework that was proposed by the Gadgil panel, in the form of an apex Western Ghats Ecology Authority and the State- level units, under the Environment (Protection) Act, and to adopt the zoning system that it proposed. This can keep incompatible activities out of the Ecologically Sensitive Zones (ESZs).  A moratorium on quarrying and mining in the identified sensitive zones, seems urgently necessary to assess their environmental impact. Kerala’s Finance Minister, Thomas Isaac, has acknowledged the need to review decisions affecting the environment, in the wake of the recent floods and landslides. Effective public consultation on various expert reports, that includes people’s representatives, will find greater resonance now, and help chart a sustainable path ahead. 13. In view of the projection that by 2050 we are likely to see about 60% more buildings, the demand for various kinds of construction materials like sand, cement, metals, water energy etc. can grow exponentially.  Because of this projected scenario the issue of how much, where, how and why for extractive   industries   must   be   considered   very   carefully   and   holistically.   There   may   be new technologies taking place in the way we build our houses, buildings, roads etc. through which we need to bring down the demand for building materials.  Govt. should actively pursue such new technologies through adequate encouragements for researchers, designers to give their inputs to reduce the demand for such building materials.  After the earthquake in Gujarat, the whole world came down to design new ways to make their homes and public places.

14. Various national and international reports, and recently the Gadgil report, have all been sceptical about the large number of dams we have, and have warned against building them in the Western Ghats. The role of hydel dams specifically and that of dams in general, built during an era of rising power demand and deficits, must now be considered again from a holistic perspective and the proposals for new ones should be dropped. Low-impact forms of green energy led by solar power and wind power, in which Karnataka is a leader, should be effectively harnessed.

15. The damage caused by such heavy rains and floods, as witnessed recently, were exacerbated by poor planning.   “The main reasons of floods have been assessed as high intensity rainfall in short duration, poor or inadequate drainage capacity, unplanned reservoir regulation and failure of flood control structures,” said a March 2018 reply from the government to the Rajya Sabha. In the case of Karnataka’s planning, it can be said that adequate care is not given for various credible options to achieve a given objective, and the costs and benefits to the larger society associated with the proposed projects are not shared and discussed with the public, which invariably have resulted in opposition to these projects and in cost & time escalations. In the wake of global warming, it is predicted that the Western Ghats region may experience more such intense and heavy rainfalls. The society should take adequate measures not only to mitigate but to adapt to this scenario.

16. “It is an irony that we announce compensation for property damage after landslides when we could have mitigated these impacts and saved an ancient ecosystem that is the principal source of drinking water for Kerala,” said former chairman of state biodiversity board Dr. V S Vijayan, who was also a member of WGEEP panel. There is a critical need for the state of Karnataka to adopt the much better step of making all possible efforts to minimise such death and destruction through appropriate remedial measures urgently, as compared to providing meagre compensation to those people who have lost everything they possess.

17.  “The dense vegetation across Kodagu which was over 50% of the land area four decades ago has come down to less than 17-18 per cent in recent times. Paving way for development projects like railways, roads and electricity lines, the local vegetation was cleared on a large scale. The damage that was done to the nature in four decades has begun to show results now,” said Dr T V Ramachandra, professor, CES. According to Dr. Ramachandra, the natural vegetation not only held the topsoil intact but also retained rainwater to be released later. “With the clearing of vegetation, there is nothing to hold back the topsoil which has been currently washed away.   “The muddy water in rivers Lakshmanteertha and Cauvery is a testimony to the fact that there is hardly any vegetation. All the landslides have happened wherever the native vegetation was cleared for road, agricultural purposes and other activities,” he said.

18. Many credible studies also show that the phenomenon of Climate Change could lead to a reduction in winter rainfall in India, causing drought in the dry summer months and an increase in the monsoon season, leading to more flooding.  There seems little doubt that the phenomenon of Climate Change will have enormous impact on water availability and agricultural output in Karnataka.  Christian Aid’s Kat Kramer says: “Science tells us that India and South Asia can expect more flooding events like the ones we’re seeing in Kerala, as global warming continues. In the Tropics we can expect more than a
10 per cent increase in precipitation for a degree Celsius increase in temperature,” she said in a statement. “These kind of events are a warning to all of us of the scale of climate crisis we are facing. The idea of more than a million people being displaced by floods is shocking, and rightly so, but if we don’t act to reduce our emissions then these kinds of disasters will become more frequent. It also shows how climate change is having a disproportionate impact on the world’s poorest people, which is why we need to see greater support to help the most vulnerable cope with emergencies of this nature,” Kramer said.

19. Many of the media reports have focused on the fact that whereas the rains have been generally heaviest in regions like Talacauvery, Agumbe and Hosanagara, there have been no reports of such landslides and floods in these areas, basically because the vegetation/forest cove are much better. There may be a need to get a diligent and focused survey done to identify such danger zones with a comparative study with the recent developments, and take precautionary measures.

20. Hence, the developmental pathway for the state, and the country as a whole, must not ignore the climatic and geographic realities, as enunciated under Climate Change projections by global agencies such as IPCCC and UNEP.  The focus should be to diligently consider how we can improve the lives of the poor and the marginalised sections of our society keeping in focus the critical need of sustainably harnessing the natural resources.

21. It has become critically urgent that our political leaders recognise the fact that there is no escape from the urgent and diligent review of our past policies which have encouraged/permitted: (i) diversion of forest/ agricultural lands; (ii) interference in and the occupation of floodplains of rivers and other water bodies; (iii) uncontrolled growth of towns and cities; (iv) construction of various linear projects such as reservoirs, canals, roads, railways, power lines etc. in natural forests/reserved forests; (v) growing of commercial farms in/nearby ecologically sensitive natural sites.

22.  In the backdrop of all these issues, we notice with deep distress that the state and the Union governments are considering /implementing a long list of projects in the ecologically critical Western Ghats of the state (as per media reports), which will no doubt lead to the cutting of lakhs of trees and to all the associated ecological consequences, such as floods and landslides in all these districts as happened in Kodagu recently.  In the context of all the issues discussed above, and especially having experienced the devastating floods and landslides in Kodagu and Kerala recently, it will be very unwise to persist with these projects at enormous costs to the state directly and indirectly. If our authorities can diligently/honestly consider various options available to meet the stated objective of these projects, we have no doubt that much more benign and more attractive options will emerge. If a diligent analysis of costs and benefits to the entire state of these projects are undertaken, it may reveal that many of these projects may not be needed at all. We urge you to instruct the concerned ministers and officials to honestly review the need for these projects in effective consultations with all the stake holders and the local communities. Such a list of projects are as in the table below.

23. Whereas a project to construct  400 KV High Tension Power Line from Mysore to Kozhikode was completed despite massive public protests and which has led to chopping of about 54,000 trees in Kodagu’s Cauvery Catchment area in 2015, about twenty projects are reported to be under the active consideration of the state govt. It should be a matter of great concern that the state govt. authorities have not considered the inevitable annihilation of the forest cover in the Western Ghats if all these projects are completed because of the cutting of about 16 lakh tress and all the associated damages. Karnataka has already lost huge tracts of its forest lands in Western Ghats, which was there at the time of independence. Against the nationally accepted target of 33% forest & tree cover ( as per National Forest Policy of 1985), our state is known to have less than 20% of the land covered by forest and trees, and the dense forest cover is reported to be less than 5%. In this scenario, it will be suicidal for the long term welfare of the state to continue to loose forest cover and the associated biodiversity loss, as can be imagined as a consequence of a large number of projects as in the following list.

A table of information containing some projects in Western Ghats and the estimated number of trees to be cut 

25. The large number of projects planned in the districts falling in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, including Kodagu, as in the table above, cannot but devastate all those districts similar to what happened in Kodagu district.  Hence, urgent corrective and preventive measures are required to prevent /minimise the damage to life and property in all these districts in future from floods and landslides.

26. With the estimation of rehabilitation of thousands of families running to more than Rs. 50,000 Crores in Kerala and Kodagu, the entire society needs to deliberate whether the so called economic benefits associated with the preceding activities of humans in exacerbating the nature’s fury was worth the enormous cost to the affected people; because the estimated cost of Rs. 50,000 Crores can only be a small and visible part of the overall cost to the society.

27. Instead of providing an opportunity to the vested commercial interests, unethical politicians and greedy contractors to continue to over-exploit the nature through irrational argument that nature’s exploitation is acceptable in the name of livelihoods, we need to come together, help the poor people to rebuild their life safely away from the harm’s path by assisting them to rebuild their houses at safe distance from the banks/flood plains of rivers/water bodies, away from fragile hills, and on sustainable foundations/basis of lifestyle. This is certainly feasible, if we are honest in our intent, take into confidence all stakeholders, and undertake due diligence in our developmental pathways.

28. In view of the serious implications of the Climate Change for our poor and vulnerable families, as projected by many credible studies, this is also certainly the right time to take a diligent review of our lifestyles, and consider how we can redistribute the nature’s bounty equitably for everyone so that no one is left to destitution, while preserving the essential ingredients of the nature for future generations too. For the poor, vulnerable, and also for the common man, the meaning of development is more of clean air, potable water, uncontaminated soil and safety of the family than anything else.

We appeal to the state govt., through your good offices, to diligently consider all these issues from the true overall welfare perspective of our communities on a sustainable basis, and urgently formulate suitable policies to protect and enhance the natural wealth in the state, and to sustainably harness the same in future.   Effective consultations with all the stake holder groups, especially the local communities and domain experts, is essential in this process.

Sincerely yours
1.   Arunkumar H.G, Founder & Managing Trustee, SARA, DombeKoppa, Hosanagara
2.   Beluru Sudarshana, Mitra Madhyama, Mysore
3.   Sahadev Shivapura, Paschima Ghatta Jaagruti Vedike, Koppa
4.   Akhilesh Chipli, Free-lance Journalist, Chipli-Lingadahalli, Sagara
5.   Shankar Sharma, Power Policy Analyst, Sagara
6.   Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP, Rajyasabha,
7.   Major General S.G.Vombatkere (Retd), Mysuru
8.   Major General Kodendera Arjun Muthanna (Retd), Madikeri
9.   Col CP Muthanna (Retd), President, Coorg Wildlife Society,  Kodagu
10. Dr. Sreepathi L.K, Professor, JNN college of Engineering, Shimoga
11. Dr. V.N Nayak, Karwar
12. Dr. Sridhar, Scientist, ISRO, Bangalore
13. Dr. T.S. Channesh, Director, Centre for Public Understanding of Science, Bangalore
14. Dr.  Shashidhara L S, Professor, IISER, Pune
15. Dr. Ganesha Hiriyannaiah, Mysore
16. Dr. Raghuvir Pai, Professor, MIT, Manipal
17. Dr. T V Ramachandra and team, CES, IISc, Bengaluru
18. Dr. Prakash Bhat, Director, SKDRDP, Dharwad
19. Dr. A N Nagaraj, Former Technical Advisor to FAO, UN, Thirthahally
20. Dr. Sekhar Iyer, Educationist, Mysore
21. Dr. Prakash Bhat, Social worker, Dharwad
22. Ajay Kumar B. S, Joint Secretary, Anna Hazare Horata Samiti (R), Shivamogga
23. Nandana Gowda, President, Rastriya Swabhiman Andholan, Shivamogga
24. Balakrishna Naidu, Secretary, Uttista Bharata Malenadu,  Shimoga
25. Vishakha L S, Ferguson, Pune
26. Divya UMA, Professor, Azim Premzi University, Bangalore
27. H V Sreelakshmi, Mysore
28. Asharani K B, Assistant, HESCOM, Hubli
29. Nalini Vanahalli, Senior Assistant, HESCOM, Gadag
30. Meera Bhardwaj, Special Correspondent, The New Indian Express, Bengaluru
31. Geeta Sharma, PhD student, Mysore
32. Devika Devaiah, Bengaluru
33. Santhosh U, Davangere
34. Niranjan B Haveri, Junior Assistant, HESCOM, Dharwad
35. Ravi Kundargi, Teacher, Hubli
36. Pandurang Hegde, Chipko/Appiko  Movement, Sirsi
37. Sundar Muthanna, Coordinator, Coorg Wildlife Society, Bangalore
38. Prof. Ramachandra Guha, Historian and Biographer, Bengaluru
39. Nagesh Hegde, Journalist, Bengaluru
40. Shashimohan, Founder, Saroshree Public Affairs Conclave , Bengaluru
41. M.A. Deviah, Consulting Editor, World Bank Group, Washington D.C.
42. J Manjunath, The Wilderness Club, Bengaluru
43. Adarsh Naik, Head of Talent Acquisition, Bengaluru
44. B. Suresha, Film Maker & Theatre Practioner, Bengaluru
45. Pemmaiah M K, Retired Bank Officer, Bangalore
46. B.M.Chinnappa, Retired Engineer, Kodagu
47. B.Nanjamma Chinnappa, Retired govt. Official, Bengaluru
48. Mookonda Nitin Kushalappa, author and engineer, Kodagu
49. Dhanush Kumar, Gattadatta ditta hejje coordinator, Dombekoppa, Hosanagara
50. Chambanda Chengappa Santosh, Proprietor, Dasu Profitech, Bengaluru
51. Yesu Prakash, Theatre Artist, Heggodu, Sagara
52. M R Patil, Parisara Jagruti Trust (R), Soraba
53. Abhiram Holla, Engineering Student, Mysore
54. Hareesh S. Belawadi, Consultant – CSR, Bangalore
55. Prof. Lakshmithathachar M, Sanskrit Scholar, Melukote
56. Prof. Veena Poonacha, Madikeri
57. Mohit M. Rao, Principal Correspondent, The Hindu, Bengaluru
58. Shashidar Shetty, National Environment Care Federation, Mangalore
59. Sriharsha Hegde , reporter in Vijayavani newspaper
60. P A Kuttappa, Freelance Business Consultant, Kodagu
61. Ramnath GP Maiya, Media Consultant, Bengaluru
62. Aravind Chokkadi, Teacher, Mundaje
63. Ashoka Vardhana, writer, Mangaluru
64. Jagadeesha, Janasangrama Parishat, Bangalore Regional Secretary
65. Malini Shankar, Wildlife Photo Journalist, Bangalore
66. Nitish Bharadwaj R, Software Engineer, Bengaluru
67. Gopalakrishna Hegde, Garden Care, Bangalore

(From Energy & Wetlands Research Group, CES, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru)
68. Vinay S,
69. Bharath Settur,
70. Sudarshan P Bhat,
71. Sincy V,
72. Asulabha KS,
73. Ravishankar Mishra,
74. Pramod G,
75. Anirudh Kishore,
76. Prakash Mesta,
77. Vishnu Mukri,
78. Sreekanth Naik,
79. Gayatri Naik

Kannada version (free translation)
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಪತ್ರ 

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಪತ್ರ

7 ಸೆಪ್ಟೆಂಬರ್ 2018

ಇವರಿಗೆ

ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯವರು

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರ

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು

ಮಾನ್ಯರೇ

ವಿಷಯ: ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಕೊಡಗು ಮತ್ತು ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎರಗಿದ ನೆರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಭೂಕುಸಿತಗಳಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾದ ಆಸ್ತಿನಾಶ ಮತ್ತು ಜೀವಹಾನಿಯ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲಗಳನ್ನು, ಅದರಲ್ಲೂ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ನಿಸರ್ಗದತ್ತ ಸಂಪತ್ತನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವ ಗಂಭೀರ ಅಗತ್ಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಮನವಿ.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವ, ಈ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಸಹಿ ಮಾಡಿದ ನಾವು ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಭೂಕುಸಿತ ಮತ್ತು ನೆರೆಹಾನಿಯಂತಹ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳ ನಾಶದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಆತಂಕ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸುತ್ತ, ನಮ್ಮ ಜನರು ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಂತಹ ವಿಪತ್ತಿಗೆ ಸಿಲುಕುವ ಸಾಧ್ಯತೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡುವ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಮುಂಜಾಗರೂಕತಾ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂಬ ಹಲವು ಸಮಾಜ ಸೇವಾ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ಮನವಿಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸಿ ನಿಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಮನವಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ.

1. 2018ರ ಆಗಸ್ಟ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇರಳ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾದ ನೆರೆ ಮತ್ತು ಭೂಕುಸಿತಗಳಿಂದ ಭಾರೀ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸ್ತಿ-ಜೀವಹಾನಿ ಆಗಿರುವುದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ದುರಂತವೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಈ ರೀತಿಯಾಗಿ ಸಂತ್ರಸ್ತರಾಗಿರುವ ಜನ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳ ಅಭ್ಯುದಯದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಬದ್ಧರಾಗಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಅತಿಕಡಿಮೆ ಕಾಲಾವಧಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅತಿಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಳೆ ಆಗಿರುವುದೂ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದರ ಜೊತೆಗೇ ಕಾಡುನಾಶ, ಅಕ್ರಮ ಮರಳುಗಾರಿಕೆ, ಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆ, ವಿಪರೀತ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ ಕಾಂಕ್ರಿಟೀಕರಣ, ಜೀವ-ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಹಲವು ಬಗೆಯ ಕ್ರಮಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಉಲ್ಲಂಘಿಸಿರುವುದು – ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಕೊಡಗು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಂಟಾದ ಭಾರೀ ದುರಂತದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಪಾತ್ರ ವಹಿಸಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಹಲವು ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾವಂತ ನಾಗರಿಕರು ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
2. ನಾಡಿನ ಮುದ್ರಣ, ಎಲೆಕ್ಟ್ರಾನಿಕ್‌ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗಳು ಈ ದುರಂತವನ್ನು ವರದಿ ಮಾಡುತ್ತ ಹಲವು ಕಾರಣಗಳನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಿವೆ; ಇಂತ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ವರದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಪಟ್ಟಿ ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ.

• ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ರಾಜಕಾರಣ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಸರ ಸಮತೋಲನ

http://avadhimag.com/?p=202768

https://www.prajavani.net/columns/vignana-vishesha/vignana-vishesha-column-567737.html

• ‘Urbanisation caused floods in Kerala, K’tka’: IIT-B
  https://www.deccanherald.com/national/flood-south-karnataka-kerala-688578.html

“Flood is a consequence to unplanned growth in the river plain. What happened to Kerala and south Karnataka this time can also be blamed to unplanned urbanisation to a large extent. So much of unplanned development took place in the periphery of Periyar river in Kerala damaging the floodplain,”

• Kodagu distress: How rampant deforestation and tourism led landslides and floods

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kodagu-distress-how-rampant-deforestation-and-tourism-led-landslides-and-floods-86924

• Kodagu landslips a result of natural and man-made causes

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/kodagu-landslips-a-result-of-natural-and-man-made-causes/article24754480.ece

• Climate change can trigger more devastating floods in India: UK charity

https://energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/power/climate-change-can-trigger-more-devastating-floods-in-india-uk-charity/65530118

• Goa next after Kerala, warn environmentalists

https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Goa-next-after-Kerala-warn-environmentalists/134965.html

The destruction of eco-sensitive areas (ESA) in the guise of eco-tourism, infringement into no-development zones (NDZ) across coastal belts, filling up mangroves and haphazard development might lead to a Kerala-flood like situation in Goa, warn environmentalists.

• His 2011 report ignored, Gadgil’s fears come true

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/his-2011-report-ignored-gadgil-s-fears-come-true/639920.html

• Kerala crisis arose due to destruction of ecologically-sensitive zones in Western Ghats
  https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/crisis-arose-due-to-destruction-of-ecologically-sensitive-zones-in-western-ghats/articleshow/65474577.cms?utm_source=ETMyNews&utm_medium=ASMN&utm_campaign=AL1&utm_content=9
• Western Ghats and Kerala calamity

https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/western-ghats-and-kerala-688581.html

• Kerala wake-up call on growth and development

http://www.asianage.com/opinion/columnists/220818/kerala-wake-up-call-on-growth-and-development.html

• Kerala floods: global warming in action
  https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/perspective/kerala-floods-global-warming-688894.html

3. ಈ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ವರದಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಣೆಗಳು ಎರಡು ಸರ್ವಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ನಿರ್ಣಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿವೆ: 1) ಈ ದುರಂತದ ಒಂದು ಪಾಲು ಮಾನವನಿರ್ಮಿತ. ಕೆಲವರು ಮಾನವ ಕೃತ್ಯಗಳೇ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರಣ ಎಂದೂ ಹೇಳಿವೆ. 2) ಹವಾಗುಣ ವೈಪರೀತ್ಯದ ವಿದ್ಯಮಾನಗಳಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ತೊಂದರೆಗಳ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಸೂಕ್ತ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಸಮರೋಪಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳದೇ ಇದ್ದರೆ, ಭಾರೀ ಮಳೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪ್ರವಾಹಗಳಿಂದ ಉಂಟಾಗುವ ಸಾವು-ನೋವು ಮತ್ತು ವಿನಾಶದ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಲಿದೆ. ಭವಿಷ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಬಡ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳನ್ನು ಸುಧಾರಿಸುವುದು ಮತ್ತು ಸುಸ್ಥಿರ ವಿಧಾನಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ನಿಸರ್ಗದ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸುವುದು – ಈ ದ್ವಿಮುಖಿ ಮತ್ತು ಏಕೀಕೃತ ವಿಧಾನದ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ಇಂಥ ಅಪಾಯಗಳನ್ನು ತಗ್ಗಿಸಬಹುದು.

ಇಂಥ ಕೆಲವು ಸಂಗತಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಾವು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ತರಬಯಸುತ್ತೇವೆ.

4. 2011 ರಲ್ಲಿ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಕುರಿತು ವರದಿ ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿದ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರಾಗಿದ್ದ, ಸುಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಪರಿಸರ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿ ಪ್ರೊ|| ಮಾಧವ ಗಾಡಗೀಳರು ಕೇರಳದ ದುರಂತವು ಆಂಶಿಕವಾಗಿಯಾದರೂ ಮಾನವನಿರ್ಮಿತ ಎಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಸಂಪತ್ತನ್ನು ಶೋಷಿಸಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಆ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರೀ ಮಳೆಯನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸುವ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ರಕ್ಷಣಾ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯು ದುರ್ಬಲವಾಗಿದ್ದವು ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. “ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಂಡಿದ್ದರೆ ಈ ದುರಂತದ ಪ್ರಮಾಣವನ್ನು ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಪ್ರಮಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಮಾಡಬಹುದಾಗಿತ್ತು. ಅಕ್ರಮ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆಯು ನೆರೆ ಹಾವಳಿಯನ್ನು ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚಿಸಿತು’ಎಂದು ಅವರು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಕಲ್ಲುಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆ, ಖನಿಜ ಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆ, ನದಿ ದಡದ ಬಳಿ ಇರುವ ಪರಿಸರ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುಮತಿ ನೀಡುವುದು – ಇವೆಲ್ಲದಕ್ಕೂ ಕಡಿವಾಣ ಹಾಕಲು ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಮುಂದಾಗಬೇಕು ಎದು ಗಾಡಗೀಳ ವರದಿಯು ಸೂಚಿಸಿತ್ತು. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮತ್ತು ಕೇರಳ ಸರ್ಕಾರಗಳು ಈ ವರದಿಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಅಲಕ್ಷಿಸುತ್ತ ಬದಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಇಂಥ ಶಿಫಾರಸುಗಳ ಹೊರತಾಗಿಯೂ ಜನರು ಭಾರೀ ನಷ್ಟ ಎದುರಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿ ಬಂತು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ವಿಷಾದದಿಂದ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಗಮನಕ್ಕೆ ತರಬಯಸುತ್ತೇವೆ.
5. ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಘಟ್ಟದ ಪರಿಸರ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಪ್ರದೇಶವು ಮಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಗೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂಬುದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ನಿದರ್ಶನಗಳು ದೊರೆಯುತ್ತವೆ. ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ಹಸಿರು ಹೊದಿಕೆಯ ನಾಶ, ನದಿಗಳ ಅವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ತಿರುಗಿಸುವಿಕೆ, ನೆರೆ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳ ಅಕ್ರಮ ಬಳಕೆ, ಜಲಮೂಲ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳ ಮಾಲಿನ್ಯ ಮತ್ತು ನಾಶ, – ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಈ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತ ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯದ ವಲಯವನ್ನು ಅಪಾಯದ ಅಂಚಿಗೆ ತಂದಿವೆ. ಪ್ರಪಂಚದ ಎಂಟು ಮೆಗಾ ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದಾದ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಘಟ್ಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಒಳಿತಾಗದ ಕೃಷಿ ವಿಧಾನಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಸರಿಸಿದ್ದರಿಂದ ದೀರ್ಘಕಾಲದ ದುಷ್ಪರಿಣಾಮವನ್ನು ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ಫಲವತ್ತತೆ ಕುಸಿತ, ಮಣ್ಣಿನ ನೀರು ಹಿಡಿದಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಕುಸಿತ ಮತ್ತು ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯದ ತ್ವರಿತಗತಿಯ ನಾಶ – ಈ ಹವಾಗುಣ ಬದಲಾವಣೆಗಳನ್ನೂ ನಾವು ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಕೆಲವು ಉತ್ತಮ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಸ್ಥಿರ ಜೀವನನಿರ್ವಹಣೆ ವಿಧಾನಗಳು ಈ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಜೀವವೈವಿಧ್ಯವನ್ನು ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ನೆರವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ; ತನ್ಮೂಲಕ ಮುಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳ ದುರಂತವನ್ನು ತಗ್ಗಿಸಬಹುದು ಎಂದು ನಂಬಲಾಗಿದೆ.
6. ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ಮಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿಗಳು ಭೂಕುಸಿತದ ಹೆಚ್ಚಳಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಿದೆ; ಇವೇ ಪ್ರವಾಹದ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗುವ ನಷ್ಟಗಳಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಕಾರಣ. ಇಂಥ ಅತಿಹೆಚ್ಚು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳು ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಘಟ್ಟ ಸಾಗಿದ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಪೈಕಿ ಕೇರಳದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಗಾಡಗೀಳ ವರದಿಯು ಕಂಡುಕೊಂಡಿತ್ತು.    ಇಂಥದ್ದೇ ಭೂಕುಸಿತಗಳಿಗೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿದ ಕೊಡಗಿನ ಬಗ್ಗೆಯೂ ಈಗ ಅಪಾಯದ ಗಂಟೆ ಬಾರಿಸಲೇಬೇಕಿದೆ. ಕೇಳರ ಮತ್ತು ಕೊಡಗಿನ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಇಂಥ ದುರಂತಗಳು ನಡೆದವು ಎಂಬುದು ಕಟುವಾಸ್ತವ. ಡಾ|| ಕಸ್ತೂರಿರಂಗನ್‌ ವರದಿಯಂತಹ ಹಲವು ವರದಿಗಳು ಕೂಡಾ ಇಂಥದ್ದೇ ನಿರ್ಣಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದಿವೆ; ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲಗಳನ್ನು ಸುಸ್ಥಿರ ಮಾದರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬಳಸಬೇಕು ಎಂದಿವೆ.
7. ಕೇರಳ ಮತ್ತು ಕೊಡಗಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ದುರ್ಘಟನೆಗಳು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕಕ್ಕೆ ನೇರ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ ಎಂದೇ ಪರಿಗಣಸಬೇಕಿದೆ. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕವೂ ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಘಟ್ಟ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿತಿಯಿಲ್ಲದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಮಾಡುವ ದಿಕ್ಕಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಹೊರಟಿದೆ. ಕೊಡಗು, ಕೇರಳದಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಅನಾಹುತದಿಂದ ಪಾಠ ಕಲಿಯುವುದು ಬೇಡ ಎಂಬ ಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಈಗ ಖಂಡಿತ ಇಲ್ಲ.
8. ಮಳೆಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರನ್ನು ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ನಿಯಂತ್ರಿಸುವ ಜವುಗು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳೂ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಪಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿವೆ ಎಂದು ವರದಿಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಚಿವಾಲಯದ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಜವುಗು ಭೂಮಿ ನಕಾಶೆಯ ಪ್ರಕಾರ, ಕೇರಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಜವುಗು ಅಥವಾ ಭತ್ತದ ಬೆಳೆಯಿಂದ ತುಂಬಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳ ವಿಸ್ತೀರ್ಣವು 1961-62 ರಲ್ಲಿ 53 ಲಕ್ಷ ಹೆಕ್ಟೇರ್‌ ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದು 2005-06ರ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ 2.76 ಲಕ್ಷ ಹೆಕ್ಟೇರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಇಳಿದಿದ್ದು, 2015-16ರಲ್ಲಿ 1.61 ಲಕ್ಷ ಹೆಕ್ಟೇರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಕುಸಿದಿದೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕವೂ ಇಂಥ ಜವುಗು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಕೋಲಾರ, ಚಿಕ್ಕಬಳ್ಳಾಪುರ ಮುಂತಾದ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಕೆರೆಗಳು ನಾಶವಾಗಿ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರಿಗೆ ಕೊರತೆಯಾಗಿದೆ. ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ, ರಸ್ತೆ ಮತ್ತು ಕಟ್ಟಡ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣಕ್ಕೆ ಈ ಜವುಗು ಭೂಮಿಗಳು ಬಲಿಯಾಗಿವೆ. ಪೆರಿಯಾರ್‌ ನದಿಗೆ ಕೇವಲ 2 ಕಿಮೀ ದೂರದಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಕೊಚ್ಚಿ ಅಂತಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣವನ್ನು ಭತ್ತದ ಗದ್ದೆಗಳ ಮೇಲೆಯೇ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸಲಾಗಿತ್ತು ಎಂಬುದು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಗಮನಿಸಬೇಕಾದ ಅಂಶ. ನಮ್ಮ ನೀತಿಗಳು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಬದಲಾಗದಿದ್ದರೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕವೂ ಇಂಥ ದುರಂತಗಳನ್ನು ಎದುರಿಸಬೇಕಾಗುವುದು ಅನಿವಾರ್ಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಶೇಕಡಾ 52ರಷ್ಟು ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳು ಸಹಜವಾಗಿಯೇ ಬರಗಾಲಪೀಡಿತ ಎಂದು ಗೊತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ, ಜಲಮೂಲಗಳ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಇಂಥ ವಿಷಯಗಳು ಮುಂದೆ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಗಂಭೀರವಾಗಬಹುದು.
9. ಕಿರು ಮತ್ತು ಬೃಹತ್‌ ಜಲಾನಯನ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸಿ ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿಸುವ ಏಕೀಕೃತ ವಾಟರ್‌ಶೆಡ್‌ ವಿಧಾನವೇ ಇಂದಿನ ಅಗತ್ಯ ಎಂದು ಪರಿಸರ ತಜ್ಞರು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಮಣ್ಣು ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ, ಕೃಷಿ, ತೋಟಗಾರಿಕೆ, ಕಾಡು ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ, ಪಶುಸಂಗೋಪನೆ, ರೇಷ್ಮೆ ಮುಂತಾದವುಗಳನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ಏಕೀಕೃತ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು  ಜನರ ಭಾಗಿತ್ವದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಿದೆ.
10. ವೈಜ್ಞಾನಿಕ ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟ ಪ್ರದೇಶದ ಜನರ ಪಾರಂಪರಿಕ ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ಏಕೀಕರಿಸಿ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಜನತೆಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ತಕ್ಕಂತೆ, ಕೈಗೆಟಕುವ ಬೆಲೆಯ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಶ್ವಾಸಾರ್ಹ ಕ್ರಿಯಾ ಯೋಜನೆಯನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸುವುದು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇಂಥ ದೇಸಿ ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ಹಲವು ದಶಕ / ಶತಮಾನಗಳ ಅನುಭವದಿಂದ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೃಷಿ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ವಾಸಿಸುವ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಗುಡ್ಡಗಾಡು ಜನರು ಈ ದೇಸಿ ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
11. ಪಶ್ಚಿಮ ಘಟ್ಟದ ಜೀವವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಮಾನವ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಯ ಒತ್ತಡಗಳಿಗೆ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಹುಡುಕುವುದೇ ಆದ್ಯತೆ ಎಂಬ ತಪ್ಪು ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯು ಇರುವುದರಿಂದ ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರವು ಇಂತಹ ವಿಧಾಯಕ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಸುಲಭವಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ನಾವು ಅರಿತಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಪರಿಸರದ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಅಂಶಗಳನ್ನು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾಗಿ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಿಸದೇ ಹೋದರೆ ಮನುಷ್ಯರ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣವನ್ನೂ ಖಾತ್ರಿಪಡಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗದು ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮುದಾಯಗಳ ನೈಜ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ನೀತಿಯು ಬಿಂಬಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ಸರ್ಕಾರವು ಕೇವಲ ಈ ವಾಸ್ತವತೆಯನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಇದನ್ನು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಜಾರಿಗೊಳಿಸುವ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲೂ ಶ್ರಮ ಹಾಕಬೇಕಿದೆ.
12. ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಬಗೆಯುವ ವ್ಯವಹಾರಗಳಾದ ಕಲ್ಲುಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಖನಿಜ ಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳ ಉದ್ಯಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಕೊಡುವುದು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾದ ವಿವಾದಾಸ್ಪದ ಸಂಗತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.  ಗಾಡಗೀಳ ವರದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಪರಿಸರ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣಾ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯಡಿ ಒಂದು ಪಶ್ಚಿಮಘಟ್ಟಗಳ ಜೀವವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಪ್ರಾಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಿ ರಾಜ್ಯಮಟ್ಟದ ಘಟಕಗಳನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿ ಈ ಕುರಿತು ಒಂದು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸುವುದು, ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಸವಾದ ವಲಯ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆಯನ್ನು ಜಾರಿಗೊಳಿಸುವುದು ಸೂಕ್ತವಾದ ಮಾರ್ಗವಾಗಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಪಾರಿಸರಿಕ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ವಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಸಬಾರದ ಚಟುವಟಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರಗಿಡಬಹುದು. ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಗುರುತಿಸಿದ ಸೂಕ್ಷ್ಮ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಲ್ಲು ಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ಖನಿಜ ಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳು ಉಂಟು ಮಾಡಿದ ಪರಿಣಾಮವನ್ನು ವಿಶ್ಲೇಷಿಸಲು, ಈ ಗಣಿಗಾರಿಕೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಷೇಧಿಸುವ ಕ್ರಮವು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ತುರ್ತಾಗಿ ಆಗಬೇಕಿದೆ.  ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗಿನ ನೆರೆ ಹಾವಳಿ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇರಳದ ಹಣಕಾಸು ಸಚಿವ ಥಾಮಸ್‌ ಐಸಾಕ್‌ರವರು ಪರಿಸರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಬೀರುವ ನಿರ್ಣಯಗಳ ಪರಾಮರ್ಶೆ ಆಗಬೇಕಿದೆ ಎಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ವಿವಿಧ ತಜ್ಞ ವರದಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ಜನಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳೂ ಸೇರಿಸಿಕೊಂಡ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕ ಚರ್ಚೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಒಂದು ಸುಸ್ಥಿರ ಹಾದಿಯನ್ನು ಹುಡುಕಬಹುದಾಗಿದೆ.
13. 2050ರ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆ ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಕಟ್ಟಡಗಳು ಈಗಿರುವ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಶೇಕಡಾ 60ರಷ್ಟು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿರುತ್ತವೆ. ಮರಳು, ಸಿಮೆಂಟ್‌, ಲೋಹಗಳು, ನೀರು, ಇಂಧನ ಹೀಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿ ಅಗತ್ಯದ ಅಂಶಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೇಡಿಕೆ ವಿಪರೀತ ಹೆಚ್ಚುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಅಗೆಯುವ ಉದ್ಯಮಗಳ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆಯಿಂದ ಮತ್ತು ಸಮಗ್ರವಾಗಿ ನಿರ್ಣಯ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕಾಗಿದೆ. ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟುವ, ರಸ್ತೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುವ, ಕಟ್ಟಡಗಳನ್ನು ರೂಪಿಸುವ ಕುರಿತು ಹೊಸ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನಗಳು ಬರಬಹುದು. ಇವುಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ನಾವು ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ ಕಾಮಗಾರಿಗೆ ಬೇಕಾದ ವಸ್ತುಗಳ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ತಗ್ಗಿಸಬೇಕಾಗಬಹುದು. ಸಂಶೋಧಕರಿಗೆ, ವಿನ್ಯಾಸಕರಿಗೆ ಸೂಕ್ತ ಉತ್ತೇಜನ ನೀಡಿ ಇಂಥ ಹೊಸ ತಂತ್ರಜ್ಞಾನಗಳನ್%B