BELAGAVI: A move by the Jindal Group to buy land in the eco-sensitive Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary amid the Western Ghats in Belagavi to set up a steel plant has stirred a controversy. JSW Steel Limited intends to purchase 878 acres of land in Gavali village of Khanapur taluk. The company issued a public notice in local newspapers on Monday and also mentioned that the said land is located in the restricted area of the sanctuary.
According to the notice, JSW Steel Limited, which is based in Sandur in Ballari intends to purchase property from about 86 joint owners. The notice further says that anyone having any right, title, interest or claim on the aforesaid land have been informed to state them.Wildlife activists immediately contacted authorities of the forest department but most of them responded that they were unaware of the development.
An official of the Jindal Group, however, said that the company has not yet purchased the land. “The public notice has been printed and if there are any objections raised by people, the company will reconsider its decision,” the official said. But the company has already erected a shed on the said land.
Many had purchased private lands at throwaway prices in Bhimgad before it was identified as wildlife sanctuary.
Many eminent personalities, including actors, industrialists and public representatives, had purchased private lands at throwaway prices in Bhimgad before it was identified as wildlife sanctuary.
In December 2011 the Centre declared that 19,042.58 ha (73.5238 sq mi) of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests were wildlife area, ending the dreams of those who had planned mining and timber businesses here. These VIP owners, including a former minister, want to to sell the land and allegedly approached Jindal Group, say activists.
Sources say Surveys no 71 and 72 are steep slopes covered with thick semi-tropical rain forest and form watershed for Mahadayi river. It is inside the Bhimgad sanctuary, but is a private land that starts from Vajara Poha waterfalls to Bhimgad. It forms an important part of wildlife area and tiger movement trails.
These areas have less human habitation and are home to tiger, leopard, Indian gaur, sloth bear, sambar, barking deer, chital, wild dogs, king cobra and reptiles.Wildlife experts say that it is important to protect these species from any ecologically damaging practices to safeguard this stretch of the Western Ghats.
“This region needs to be conserved as it holds great potential for tiger and biodiversity conservation. Expanding the sanctuary’s current limits by adding surrounding reserve forests will help consolidate the wildlife habitat and also address the water security issues in North Karnataka and Goa,” said wildlife activist Jaideep Siddannavar.
Khanapur Assistant Conservator of Forests C B Patil clarified that the department will ensure no constructions are taken up in the area and the sanctity of the buffer zone is upheld. “Forest department will ensure that no construction is done in that area which belongs to wildlife sanctuary. The owner has no rights to lay path from the main road to an area in deep forests,” he said.
Not First Time
The forest department had restricted Hubballi Electricity Supply Company from allegedly erecting transmission lines within Bhimgad sanctuary recently. While work has been stopped, over 37 acres of forests were proposed to be diverted for erecting transmission lines under the rural electrification scheme. Following pressure from local activists, the forest officials barred Hescom from erecting transmission lines to connect five villages. But 160 poles were already erected traversing through nearly nine acres of forest land. After a series of notices sent by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Belagavi) for the alleged illegality, Hescom finally applied for forest clearance in the second week of January 2017. A total of 15.3 hectares of the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is being claimed for the project costing nearly D5 crore.
Only colony of Wroughton Bats in India
The Bhimgad forests are known for Barapede caves, the only known breeding ground of the threatened bat species — Wroughton’s free-tailed bat. The forest is also home to tigers and black panthers.