Cutting across party lines, legislators adopted a resolution on Thursday, requesting UNESCO to drop its decision to confer the world heritage tag on ten hot spots in the Western Ghats. Emotions ran high in the Legislative Assembly when members debated UNESCO's move with most of them stating that it would spell doom for people living in the area. At one stage, Speaker K.G. Bopaiah offered to give up his post while others demanded action against Western Ghats' Task Force head Ananth Hegde Ashisara.
The House decided to send a copy of the resolution to the Union government. Participating in the debate, Arasikere legislator Mr Shivalinge Gowda said “the company called UNESCO: need not protect forests in Karnataka and suggested that all forests be reserved for grazing cattle. Moving a private member resolution, Mr H. Halappa said the House should unanimously condemn UNESCO's decision. Many members representing constituencies in Western Ghats came down heavily on officials of the forest department, accusing them of opposing developmental activities in the area.
Thirthahalli legislator Mr Kimmane Rathnakar said the officers were insensitive to issues like population explosion. “The forest officials should realize that people also have a right to live and extend facilities to them," he added Forests minister C.P. Yogeshwar said the process of conferring the world heritage tag commenced in 2003. “The state government has written two letters, opposing the move. However, it has not received any reply. The state government has not received any official communication on UNESCO's decision, but an announcement has been made on the website,” he added.