By Meera Bhardwaj
The construction of a “major residential complex (or a luxurious resort)” in the Buffer and Eco Sensitive Zone of Nagarhole National Park has once again started – throwing all rules and regulations to the wind.
The illegal construction work taken up by a rich Ballari landowner is going on in the Prime Tiger Landscape of Kabini Foreshore area between Nagarhole and Bandipur which is in fact, the single largest landscape for tigers, leopards, elephants, gaurs and antelopes.
A VIEW OF THE KABINI FORESHORE AREA WHERE CONSTRUCTION IS ON
Speaking to Green Minute, the PCCF and Head of Forest Force has assured to look into the illegal construction issue at Nagarhole and also direct the concerned officials to take action for stopping all work.
In July, the Antarsanthe RFO had sent in a notice to the landowner while the DCF, Nagarhole wrote to the Mysuru DC for action. But after the works stopped in July, it started again from September end and now it is going on at full speed to complete it as fast as possible.
PERMISSION WITHDRAWN
Even though the Panchayat Development Officer of N Belathur (where the building is being built) withdrew the permission (granted in 2019) for construction and has directed the landowner to produce the land conversion order, building permission and NOC, construction by this landowner from Ballari goes on happily.
INSTALLATION OF FENCING THAT WILL HINDER WILDLIFE MOVEMENT
Activists say it is highly unfortunate that the construction has restarted without a care in the Nagarhole buffer/ESZ which is also a tiger landscape and a significant Wildlife Corridor. Till the final ESZ (eco sensitive zone) of Nagarhole is not notified, as per Supreme Court orders, the buffer zone will be 10 kilometers by default, they stress.
K S Narasimhamurthy, a land owner from Ballari district and reportedly very close to the district’s mining politicians has now re-started the construction of a sprawling building complex in Survey No: 142/144 at N Belathur gram panchayat of Antarsanthe hobli, HD Kote taluk. Although farmers are allowed to build their farmhouse in two guntas of land, this owner’s new building is occupying 997.29 square meters which is equivalent to 11 guntas of land. Not just these, N Belathur grama is part of the notified buffer zone of Nagarhole.
FOREST DEPARTMENT’S NOTICE
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT KABINI
On July 18th, the Antarsanthe Range forest Officer had served a notice on the landowner as both the survey numbers were falling in Nagarhole ESZ while the entire village was within the Mysore Elephant Reserve as also part of the Nagarhole Tiger Conservation Area. The landuse change not only violated the ESZ guidelines but also hindered the movement of elephants between Nagarhole and Bandipur tiger reserves. Further, the building is in the vicinity of Bandipur-Nagarhole tiger landscape which is the country’s prime tiger habitat.
Further, being a tiger corridor, it will cause enormous disturbance to the wildlife movements, the RFO had outlined. The owner is not just building a resort but has also dug a channel from the Kabini backwaters in order to bring water to his land. A water pond too is being constructed inside his land so as to attract tigers, elephants, leopards and other wildlife to his farmhouse and commercially display the wildlife for the benefit of his customers.
A VIEW OF ONE SIDE OF THE BUILDING WHICH LOOKS COMMERCIAL
PAST DEMOLITIONS
In the past few years, there have been instances where construction of illegal resorts and private farmhouses in wildlife areas have been stopped in the ESZ in many districts while in some cases, resorts have been demolished like the Soutira Resort in Khanapur taluk, Belagavi district in December, 2016.
The Karnataka forest department has prevented the construction of Apna Sapna Resort in the Bandipur ESZ in May 2012 while in 2010-11, they had successfully stopped a Villa project in the ESZ of Bandipur. A fully functional resort on the opposite banks of Kabini River in the ESZ of Bandipur Tiger Reserve was also demolished by the DC Mysore in 2008.
Activists from Nagarhole said, “The DCF is the member secretary of the ESZ Management Committee while the Regional Commissioner, Mysuru is the Chairman. The DC, Mysuru being one of the members has to take action. Added to this, the recent tiger status report has posted a grim picture of human interference and commercial construction activity in ESZ of prime tiger habitats.
A DUG-UP POND TO DRAW WATER FROM KABINI TO THE COMPLEX
RIGHT TO STOP
To this, a former PCCF adds, “There is a long list of such resorts and farmhouses that have been prevented and demolished in the ESZ of protected areas. Unfortunately, Nagarhole DCF after writing to the DC, Mysuru has completely absolved himself of all responsibilities. Action should have been initiated by now for stopping the works and demolish the structure. This sort of construction requires land conversion permission from the DC while the Forest Department is very much well within its rights to stop this construction.”
Adding to this, wildlife conservationists conclude, “Till date, Mysuru district authorities continue to dither and have failed to demolish the illegal residential complex. With the landowner continuing with his illegal activity, it portends vested interest and opening of a prime tiger landscapes for future commercial constructions……”
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