Karnataka govt. urged to act against illegal activities in eco-sensitive zones adjoining river Kabini

Alleging that illegal activities, including the construction of resorts were continuing in the eco-sensitive zones adjoining river Kabini, ‘Save Kabini’, an environment protection group, has urged the State government to immediately take action to protect the forests from encroachment.

The members of ‘Save Kabini’, including Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) activist Honnur Prakash and advocate V. Ravikumar, who addressed a press conference in Mysuru on Tuesday, pointed out that commercial activities should be prohibited in eco-sensitive zones, tiger reserves, and elephant corridors falling within the Bandipur and Nagarhole forest regions adjoining river Kabini.

Commercial activities like resorts, homestays, hotels, clubs, bars, restaurants, boating, safari, and water sports, besides ginger processing units, factories, stone crushers, private vehicle safaris within the forest limits, and use of heavy machinery such as excavators were strictly regulated.

Though commercial activities mandatorily require a No Objection Certificate from the Forest and Irrigation Department and obtaining construction plans and trade licenses were necessary from other relevant departments before commencing operations, the ‘Save Kabini’ group regretted that many enterprises in the forest areas belonged to influential politicians and industrialists who were operating them illegally.

Illegal commercial operations in Kabini backwaters and Bandipur and Nagarhole Tiger Reserve eco-sensitive zones were leading to detruction of forest wealth and threatening wildlife, a ‘Save Kabini’ member said.

This was leading to tigers, leopards, elephants, wild boars, deer, peacocks, and other animals and birds being forced out of forests, causing serious problems to the farmers living along the fringes of the forests.

Hence, the ‘Save Kabini’ members have urged the government to take action not only against Forest Department officials, but also against officials of the Irrigation, Tourism, Panchayat Raj, and Revenue Department, who were responsible for these lapses, and replace them with honest officials.

They also urged the government to act against illegal activities in the forest areas so that the forests can be protected from encroachers.