BENGALURU: A road widening project inside the Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary and within the Hanur Buffer Zone has attracted the ire of wildlife activists.
The 4.5 kilometre stretch from Hanur to Ramapura via Ajjipura is being widened sans any permission from the State Forest Department or the Wildlife Board.
According to activists, the stretch from Hanur to Ajjipura has dense vegetation on both sides and is home to significant number of wild animals including elephants, deer, sambar, etc. The existing road acts as a barrier to the free movement of animals. Further, two deer have been killed in the last five months on this stretch. If the road is widened further, there is a greater danger to animals due to speeding vehicles. This would also escalate human-wildlife conflict.
Located in Chamarajanagar district, this sanctuary is rich in diversity and includes a healthy population of tigers, said Shankar of Sahyadri Shrunga. He added, “The sanctuary is already under lot of stress due to ongoing human interference. The road widening project would put even more pressure on wildlife. Being subjected to tremendous atrocities by Veerappan for decades, wildlife is still recovering.”
He added, “Upgradation of roads inside wildlife sanctuary needs permission from the state Wildlife Board and National Board for Wildlife among others.
The Central Empowered Committee set up by the apex court in fact, makes it clear that status quo of roads must be maintained. In total disregard of Central norms and CEC, Forest Department officials have disregarded this illegal activity inside the sanctuary limits.”
Hanur Range Forest officer Lokesh told Express, “This is a state highway and the PWD department has taken up the widening work. As far as I know, they have not taken any permission. However, the widening work has not entailed any cutting of trees. The work is still going on on this stretch. I will have to look into the issue and see if they have sought any permission from the DCF.”
MoEF guidelines
The guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in December, 2014 mandates that the status quo of roads passing through wildlife sanctuaries, national parks or tiger reserves must remain the same and no up-gradation work is to be allowed. Permission should be sought from the National Board of Wildlife for maintenance.