Mangaluru: Elected representatives, organizations, farmers and local environmentalists opposed the implementation of Dr. K. Kasturirangan report on the conservation of the Western Ghats during public discussion held DC’s office on Saturday, November 29.

After the verification by the Forest Department, as many as 46 villages have been classified as eco-sensitive areas in the district under the Kasturirangan report.

Representatives of various associations asserted that the discussion pertaining to the implementation of report should be discussed at Gram Panchayat-levels adding that the public was not ready to accept the report framed by experts sitting in the air-conditioned rooms in Bengaluru.

“The Kasturirangan committee depended only on the satellite imagery to decide the eco-sensitive zones. The areas marked as forest now have human habitations and plantation”, Nere Krishna Shetty from Hebri said.

Krishnappa Gowda, a farmer said that thousands of families in the 46 villages’ would have a miserable life if the said report is implemented.

The public in general demanded re-surveying of the entire affected area and that the villagers should be kept updated on every move through the respective Gram Panchayats.

Meanwhile, Malnad Janahitha Rakshana Vedike boycotted the meet after submitting a memorandum to the DC.

K. Deeksith, who heads the state level committee, said that the reports are ready and will be submitted to the state government before December 15, the given deadline. The state government will in turn forward the report to the central government, which will check the collective conscience of the public and announce its decision.

DK Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim, Zilla Panchayat (ZP) CEO Tulasi Maddineni, ZP President Asha Thimmapa Gowda, an officer named Vipin Singh were among others present.