Opinion growing in favour of declaring Western Ghats as ESA

February 14, 2011

Mangalore, February 15: A certain kind of industrial development should not be allowed around the Western Ghats as it was an ecologically sensitive area. This was the opinion of a majority of speakers at a meeting on “Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats” here on Monday.

The Western Ghats Task Force and the Expert Panel on Western Ghats, constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Department of Forests, Mangalore Division, jointly organised the meeting, inviting suggestions from the public about which areas could be given “Ecologically Sensitive Area” status under the Environment Protection Act 1986. Unlike a national park, an ESA did not prohibit human activity. Notification of an area as ecologically sensitive would not involve displacement and subsequent rehabilitation of forest dwellers.

Several people said the whole of the Western Ghats should be declared as ESA. They were strongly in favour of conservation efforts at the gram panchayat level as mandated by the law.

Ashok Kundapur, a participant, said: “The Western Ghats should be declared as ESA. The Danida report (a carrying capacity study of the Dakshina Kannada was done by the Danish Government at the request of the Karnataka Government in 1993. The report, submitted in 1994, outlined specific actions to be taken by the Government to ensure sustainable development of the district) was a part of the Government's treasure trove of unimplemented reports. The gram panchayats should be given the knowledge, infrastructure and authority necessary to carry out environment protection activities.”

Venugopal Gokhale of Shishila said the Kapila river should be protected as it supported a species of fish that was found only in that river.

Recommendation

The Western Ghats Task Force constituted by the State Government would recommend to the Centre to declare the Kodachadri forests as an Ecologically Sensitive Area, Task Force member Keshav Korse said.

Ramachandra Bhatta, a professor at Fisheries College, made a presentation on the proposal.

He said the proposal had been sent to the Centre in May 2006. KESA would encompass Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shimoga, Chikmaglur and parts of Uttara Kannada districts. He said it met 12 out of 13 criteria specified by the MoEF for the notification of an ESA, and was awaiting notification.

Activist Vidya Dinker suggested that the boundaries of the proposed KESA be extended southwards to cover the area that was endangered by the notification of Phase II of the Mangalore Special Economic Zone.

Member of the expert panel Vidya Nayak was present.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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