The translated document, made publicly available by the coalition, is the first official‑style Kannada version of the draft notification, which until now existed only in Hindi and English. The coalition says the translation is a verbatim rendering, notarised to assure authenticity, and invites citizens to read it before submitting comments.
The draft, issued in July, seeks to restrict activities deemed destructive in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats, designating large swathes of the range as an Ecologically Sensitive Area. It proposes prohibitions on mining classified under the “red” category, major hydro‑electric and nuclear projects, and construction works exceeding 20,000 square metres.
Karnataka accounts for the largest share of the proposed protected area, yet the state government has not provided a Kannada version despite the Directorate of Translations’ mandate to translate central legislation into the regional language. Coalition members argue that the absence of a Kannada text hampers informed public feedback, especially after more than a decade since the Kasturirangan report that first highlighted the need for protection.
Local opposition to the draft is strong in districts such as Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada, where residents fear displacement and loss of livelihood. “People are being asked to respond to a notification they cannot read,” said Nirmala Gowda of Mapping Malnadu, a coalition participant.
The coalition, which includes organisations such as Bengaluru Environment Forum, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Association, Friends for Future and United Conservation Movement, contends that misinformation spread by vested interests is shaping the narrative. One member noted that while the draft bans large‑scale mining and infrastructure projects, it does not directly affect local communities, contrary to circulating claims.
The move echoes a similar demand in August 2025, when the fishing community of Keni village in Uttara Kannada asked for a Kannada translation of a 600‑page draft Environmental Impact Assessment for a proposed JSW commercial port, receiving only a 48‑page executive summary in the regional language.
By providing a certified Kannada translation, the coalition hopes to enable a broader segment of Karnataka’s population to engage meaningfully with the draft, potentially influencing the Ministry’s final decision on the Western Ghats ESA.