Karnataka: Forest officials plan drive to clean up Kabini backwaters

MYSURU: Buoyed by the success of the drive to clean-up Kapila river that runs through Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, which has the highest tiger population and movement of elephants, forest authorities have planned a similar drive as part of World environment day celebrations on June 5.
Officers have invited volunteers to clean the river area of plastics, rubber and other waste materials floating or piled up at the curves of the river. The purpose is to restore the ecosystem and to give clean and pristine habitat to the wildlife.
Last year, about three truckloads of plastic, rubber, and bottles including that of liquor, were removed from the river as well as backwaters during the special drive led by Nagarahole director D Mahesh Kumar. Collected waste was handed over to an organisation for recycling. This year too Nagarahole forest officers have planned a similar dawn to dusk drive.
Range forest officer of DB Kuppe Range of Nagarahole Forest is conducting the drive covering about 20km of river area. The drive is expected to commence from Udbur Gate. Volunteers willing to lend a helping hand to the foresters, may contact the range forest office for enrolment before Friday.
Plastic waste have been a great threat to wildlife. Waste materials thrown in the river by tourists and the public residing on the river banks end up in forest areas which is a concern for the wildlife authorities.
Range forest officer Madhu KL said a huge amount of waste materials – plastic bags, liquor bottles, medicine bottles, glasses, rubber materials and clothes that were stuck on river edges were cleared as part of a clean-up drive last year.
Dinesh Bopanna, trustee of Namma Mysuru Foundation said about 100 volunteers were roped in to clean the river area inside the forest and the waste was disposed of. “This year too volunteers are being enrolled for the special operation to remove waste,” he added.