Leopard yet to be caught; CNNL incurs loss as KRS remains closed

Mandya: In the interest of public safety, it was decided to close Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) Dam, and the Brindavan Gardens on the premises of the site to visitors, after a leopard was spotted prowling around at least four times since October 21. The forest department is yet to capture the elusive leopard, and this prolonged closure of the dam and gardens has left Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd (CNNL) clutching losses to the tune of Rs 50 lakh. CNNL officials said that they were awaiting directions from the forest department to reopen the dam to visitors. However, the foresters were not responding to their pleas, they said.
Visitors have been barred entry to the Brindavan Gardens in mandya since November 6, when a leopard was captured prowling on the premises on a closed-circuit television camera. Interestingly, CNNL authorities had reopened the gardens to visitors within days of the leopard being spotted on the premises the first two times. However, when the big cat reappeared on the site, the forest department deemed it safer to close the tourist attraction.
On weekdays, nearly 3,000 visitors throng the Brindavan Gardens, while the number spikes to 5,000 during the weekend. With the turnstiles to the gardens no longer whirring, CNNL has been deprived of the revenue it would otherwise have garnered through entrance fees. On the other hand, the micro-economy the subsistence of which is predicated on the number of tourists visiting the gardens, too has borne the brunt of the prolonged closure. Stakeholders in the tourism sector are understandably upset with the forest department for its failure to capture the leopard, despite the gardens having remained closed for nearly three weeks.
Srinrangapatna MLA Ravindra Srikantaiah pointed out that keeping the KRS Dam closed for such a long period could do irreparable damage to its reputation as one of Mandya district’s leading tourist attractions. He opined that the state government was either not aware of the fact or not too concerned about the same. The MLA added that the forest department appeared not to be trying too seriously to capture the elusive leopard caught prowling on the premises of Brindavan Gardens.
However, deputy conservator of forests Vritran told TOI that the department’s multiple efforts to nab the leopard had not yielded the desired result. Vritran pointed out that the KRS Dam site was an open space, and leopards are unlikely to venture out in such places. He said that the forest department had installed more than 60 camera trackers, using them to monitor the big cat’s movements during the night. The forest department official exuded confidence of confirming the leopard’s presence or lack thereof on the premises of the Brindavan Gardens within three days. Vritran affirmed that the forest department is not responsible for the closure of Brindavan Gardens.