BENGALURU: With opposition mounting, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has sought a detailed report from the state forest department on the status of the Great Canara Trail project that cuts across core areas of Kali Tiger Reserve.
Wildlife activists have been demanding that the project be scrapped. Based on a complaint filed by wildlife activists from Dandeli and Anshi region, Dr Vaibhav Mathur, Assistant Inspector General of Forests of NTCA, has asked the department to take action as per the approved ‘Tiger Conservation Plan’ besides following guidelines issued under the Wildlife Protection Act. Activists have requested Additional Chief Secretary (Forests) Vijay Bhaskar to take action against the Director of Kali Tiger Reserve for allowing infrastructure works without taking permission from the National Board of Wildlife.
They said, “Sign boards have been put up, trekking routes widened and construction of toilet facility at Phansgali in Kumbarwada Wildlife Range of the reserve.” Such activities are in violation of the NTCA guidelines and further, the Canara Trail project has not even been approved under Kali Tiger Conservation Plan. “The plan has ratified the carrying capacity of tourism.
Any attempt to give further scope to increase tourism in core areas will be above the physical carrying capacity of this landscape,” they said. Vinay Luthra, chairman of Karnataka Ecotourism Development Board, admits that only 11 trekking routes have been approved by the forest department.
“Approvals are needed for the trail as it passes through the tiger reserve. However, large parts of forest and protected areas that were handed over to the control of the Director of Tiger Reserve are not part of the notified area and this can be used up for tourism.”