Wildlife activists have opposed road widening within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and have dubbed the expansion illegal as it lacks the permission of the State and national boards for wildlife.
According to activists, the expansion is taking place under pressure from politicians and a 13-km stretch of road from Bhoohalli check-post to Muthathi in Kanakapura taluk, which cuts through Halaguru range of the sanctuary, is being widened.
Saying that the existing road can be repaired and asphalted, but it cannot be widened without permission, activists flayed the authorities for violating the law and politicians for pressuring Forest Department staff.
“As cases of wild animals being killed by speeding vehicles are increasing, so are cases of illegal road construction and widening inside the sanctuary,” an activist said. Citing the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the activist said that roads that have already been tarred should continue to be maintained and repaired properly in the current form. “But no roads inside national parks and sanctuaries should be widened or upgraded.”
What is intriguing is that the State Forest Department had stopped this illegal road widening and seized the vehicles and earth-movers used for the purpose in December. “But it is suspected that officials have succumbed to pressure from local politicians,” an activist said.
Activists also said that it was distressing that the forest staff have been cautioned against interference.
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is an important wildlife habitat that hosts honey badgers, documented for the first time in Karnataka recently. This apart, it is a prime habitat for tigers, leopards, wild dogs, spotted deer, and sloth bear, apart from Asiatic elephants.
The place is known for man-animal conflict and such infrastructure projects could acerbate the situation further, warned activists.