Bengaluru, 20 September

A three-day special session of the Karnataka legislature will begin from 21 September to discuss the drought situation in the State and the Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats ecologically sensitive areas.

A consensus may largely emerge between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP and JD(S) regarding opposing the Kasturirangan report, except for some blame regarding the Centre issuing a draft notification.

Regarding the drought issue, however, a heated exchange can be expected between the ruling and opposition benches, as the BJP and JD(S) have accused the government of failing to manage the situation and provide proper relief to affected farmers, such as announcing measures like loan waivers. The Congress on its part has alleged lack of support from the Centre.

The special session has been called as the legislature could not discuss the drought situation and the State's response to the Centre's draft notification on the Western Ghats ecologically sensitive area during last month's monsoon session as the Opposition continuously protested demanding B Nagendra's resignation as minister.

The State has repeatedly rejected the Centre's draft notifications. The seventh draft notification proposes to declare 56,000 sq km of area across six states as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA).

In Karnataka, 20,668 sq km of area, covering 33 taluks and 1,449 villages across 10 districts (Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi), falls under the ESA scope. This will adversely affect farmers' livelihoods and future development, Karnataka argues.