6 months ago
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A connection has surfaced for the operation of a mini-hydel task crossed the Kumaradhara stream successful Kodagu territory astatine a clip erstwhile the conservation of Western Ghats should beryllium a argumentation priority.
The connection successful question is for the Sri Shantamallikarjuna Mini Hydel Project crossed the Kumaradhara successful Kodagu, which seeks the diversion of 2.8 hectares of forestland successful Kumarahalli colony of Somwarpet taluk.
This has been projected by M/s Poorna Pragna Infrastructure of Hassan territory and is pending earlier the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Madikeri Division, for introspection and recommendation.
However, conservationists person expressed interest drafting attraction to ecological issues and the degradation of the Western Ghat ecosystem nether the guise of mini and micro hydel systems.
Wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni has appealed to the Forest Department to contradict support for the task connected grounds that the tract was adjacent to the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary — an important elephant situation and location to respective taxon listed nether Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Mr. Kulkarni said that the task country reportedly falls wrong the sanctuary’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notified successful June 2017 and lies hardly 2.5 km from its boundary.
“The portion is already facing terrible situation fragmentation owed to aggregate infrastructure projects, unregulated tourism, and mini-hydel projects, and the caller proposal, if approved, volition further adhd to anthropogenic unit and person a antagonistic interaction connected the elephant corridor,” said Mr. Kulkarni. While it volition endanger the endurance of cardinal species, it volition besides aggravate human-elephant struggle successful the region, helium cautioned.
Underlining the value of conserving the task area, Mr. Kulkarni said nonaccomplishment to bash truthful volition besides effect successful the degradation of the riverine ecosystem. The attraction of the authorities was besides drawn to recurring incidents of landslides successful the portion owed to situation degradation and measures to halt further deterioration of the ecosystem were sought.
The practice made to the Forest Department connected October 28, 2025, besides sought to punctual the authorities of the State authorities affidavit filed earlier the Karnataka High Court successful Writ Petition No. 9333/2009, wherein it undertook not to licence caller mini hydel projects successful the Western Ghats.
“The High Court had accepted this undertaking, starring to the cancellation of respective projected schemes. Any caller approval, Kulkarni argued, would contradict this committedness and interruption the State’s stated conservation policy,” said Mr. Kulkarni.
