As I understood from the report the following activities are strictly banned:
Sand extraction
Stone quarrying
Timber clear felling
Construction of buildings of 20000 sq meters and above
Forming layouts
All red category industries
I have been trying to find out what is wrong for Kodagu and Kodavas by the report being implemented. I have not found much answers other than people talking on hearsay.
I am a businessman selling pesticides and fertilizers and probably would be the first to get affected if what people say are true.
But as a Kodava should we not think of the survival of our community in Kodagu. I presume and hope implementation of the HLWG report will prevent the following:
Outsiders from coming to Kodagu and grabbing land. Outsiders come and offer huge prices for the land and the original inhabitants who have not had any experience in investing the money will ultimately end up as menial labour or security staff once the money from the land sale is exhausted.
Sand mining. Prevention of sand mining will preserve our river banks and restore year round flow of water in the rivers.
Huge resorts coming up in Kodagu and and creating a strain on the environment and ecology. These resorts will be sources for over utilization of ground water and pollution.
Establishment of all red category industries (Highly polluting industries)
Stone quarrying. Sand mining and stone quarrying are being done on a large scale to meet the demand in the neighbouring state where both the activities are strictly controlled and not for local consumption.
Clear felling of timber.As I have understood timber cutting for bonafide use will be permitted. Since agricultural activity is permitted, shade lopping and such other activities are not prohibited.
but what about animal menace:
The problem existed even before HLWG report and it will exist after implementation of the report. I feel there will stricter monitoring of the situation after implementation of the report. We should demand special privileges for tolerating and protecting the animals. Probably the Government should identify properties which are animal prone and fix an annual per acre compensation for such properties.
My presumption is Kodagu and Kodavas, their land, culture, language will be better protected with the implementation of this report. A minuscule minority community of India, if it exists say a hundred years hence and someone would try and pin point one reason for the existence of the community then, I presume they will zero in on HLWG( Kasturi Rangan Report).
If you want to read the whole report log into:
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/374055/report-of-the-high-level-working-group-on-western-ghats-kasturirangan-western-ghats-report/
