7 months ago
2
Consequent to a spate of tiger deaths successful the M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, the State authorities has been petitioned to cull wood diversion proposals that volition pave the mode for mini hydel projects on the stream Cauvery successful the M.M. Hills Wildlife Division and the Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
Wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni has red-flagged the contented connected grounds that the projected projects for which forestland diversion has been sought, would further fragment the situation which was already witnessing an summation successful struggle situations, and drew attraction to the caller poisoning of six tigers successful M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary during the past 4 months.
Mr. Kulkarni has written a missive to Eshwar B. Khandre, Minister for Forest, Ecology, and Environment, and stated that the 3 proposals impact the Ranganathaswamy Mini Hydel Project by Pioneer Power Corporation, the Barachukki 2x2.5 MW Mini Hydel Project by Madhyaranga Energy Pvt. Ltd., and a 24.5 MW Hydroelectric Project by Balaji Cauvery Power Pvt. Ltd. — each of which are located adjacent Shivanasamudra and Sathegala successful Kollegal taluk.
Mr. Kulkarni cited the decease of 5 tigers successful June 2025 successful the Hoogyam scope of M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and different tiger decease reported connected October 3, each of which were allegedly poisoned, and said that these incidents could beryllium attributed to shrinking habitats and disruption successful the predator-prey dynamics.
He cautioned that the projected task involving tree felling, blasting, tunnelling, and construction near the stream would obstruct wildlife question and escalate struggle successful the adjoining villages.
Underlining the ecological value of the Cauvery-M.M. Hills landscape, Mr. Kulkarni said that the Cauvery riverine loop and the adjoining forests signifier a captious elephant situation which is recognised by the Karnataka Elephant Task Force, 2012. The petitioner pointed retired that the mini hydel projects make carnal barriers for elephant and wildlife question starring to disruption of migration and ranging patterns, accrued harvest depredation successful adjacent villages, and an escalation of struggle situations resulting successful retaliatory sidesplitting of chaotic animals.
Mr. Kulkarni said that the value of the M.M. Hills-Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) arsenic a connectivity portion linking CWS, M.M. Hills and the BRT Tiger Reserve are good documented.
He pointed retired that an earlier adept committee, which had suggested that 1 of these projects whitethorn beryllium permitted with “minimum involution and safeguards”, was misleading and nary longer relevant. This was due to the fact that tiger mortality owed to struggle has drastically accrued successful caller years and human-elephant conflicts crossed Chamarajanagar and Kollegal person intensified.
Mr. Kulkarni said that these projects, if approved, would fragment important habitats of tigers and elephants, and exacerbate human–wildlife conflict. The petition, helium said, underscores the superior ecological consequences of these projects and added that the consequent situation fragmentation could pb to further tragic incidents.
