Meera Bhardwaj:
After Turahalli, it is for the people of Bengaluru to take cudgels and fight to save their city as Hessarghatta Grasslands is now in the pipeline for conversion into an urban wasteland. Even though majority of the members of Karnataka State Wildlife Advisory Board supported the formation of the 5010-acre Greater Hessarghatta Conservation Reserve (CR), the state government rejected and brushed it aside without any discussion in its January 19th meeting. The Hessarghatta CR would have been an ideal and natural “Carbon Sink” for a city like Bengaluru facing climatic change problems, activists say.
The Hessarghatta Grasslands and Wetlands are a treasure trove for hundreds of bird species including migratory birds from far and wide with its own unique, precious flora and fauna. Environmentalists and activists unanimously reiterate that people of Bengaluru have been “forced” to come on the streets to save their city instead of their duly elected representatives listening to their voices.
Just take a peek into the past and recollect the campaigns taken up to save the city’s green cover. These include – Steel Bridge Flyover Beda, Elevated Corridor Project Beda, Bannerghatta National Park ESZ, National Highway Widening, Karnataka Tree Preservation Act, Save Turahalli forests, Massive Tree cover loss for Metro Rail in the last decade.
SAVING THE GRASSLANDS
After its reconstitution, the state government in its first meeting itself has rejected important proposals and disregarded the popular opinion on ground even as the highly populated city of Bengaluru is facing rampant expansion and acute migration.
Both Citizens, Activists and Environmental groups have been striving to save the city’s last remaining Forests, Grasslands, Wetlands and Common Spaces as they have been grabbed for development, diversion for linear structures and encroachments. Namma Bengaluru is facing huge green cover loss – resulting in depleting water table and rising levels of air, noise and water pollution.
How will B S Yeddyurappa Government achieve their dream of a Green and Clean Bengaluru if they reject such proposals for conservation reserves and sanctuaries and happily divert forest lands which otherwise would have mitigated the “Climate Crisis” problem to some extent?
JAN 19th WILDLIFE BOARD MEETING
Now coming to the issue of total rejection of GREATER HESSARGHATA GRASSLAND CONSERVATION RESERVE by the wildlife board – one of its members, Tyag Uthapa has written to chief wildlife warden and questioned the January 19th board decision to reject this proposal lock, stock and barrel. Other members too have written letters while some have submitted their dissent note. While some members did not talk to Green Minute others spoke about their support.
Former ADGP K S N Chikkerur and Board member who is sending his dissent note on the rejection of CR says, “The way the subject was taken up was not proper. This is the only grasslands in the city and lot of birds are threatened here. The public needs to know about this, it is a big issue and cannot be just brushed aside. Further, the issues involved are much more serious….”
In his letter, Tyag Uthapa states, “When the subject was introduced in the board meeting, S R Vishwanath, Yelahanka MLA forcefully tried to put his point across that such a vast tract of land should not be declared as CR as the farmers may be affected by it. Grass which is the most universal plant with 10,000 varieties, is also one of the most sensitive plant. Grasslands are the feeding grounds not only for large plant eaters but also for meat eaters, insects, birds, rodents, snakes and many more. You take away the grass you take away the very life supporting system.”
Another member, Vinodkumar B Naik says, “Except for CM’s invitee, MLA S R Vishwanath and his son and board member Alok Vishwanath, almost all members were totally for formation of the CR. This is an ideal habitat and also there is hardly any traffic movement here. In fact, the proposal should be taken up again in the board meeting as there was no discussion. The Film City has been a non-starter – shifting from city to city…”
Siddharth Goenka, Board member stated clearly, “There was widespread support for the formation of the conservation reserve. I have written a letter on this.”
HESSARGHATTA – BREEDING GROUND FOR VARIED BIRDLIFE
Naturalists and wildlife enthusiasts all over the state have reported that Hessarghatta Grasslands have become the breeding grounds now or at least home for such a rare birdlife – Greater Spotted Eagle, Lesser Florican (only a few hundred left). Apart from this, it is also home to Slender Loris, Smooth Coated Otter and the Indian Leopard.
The importance to replant, regenerate the loss of grasses should be taken up as a priority, stresses Uthapa. “Our grasslands are shrinking rapidly and this Greater Hessarghatta Grassland is the ONLY grasslands in Bangalore. It is unfortunate that the Chair tried to conclude without a lengthy debate on this important issue. The issue has been handled in a hurried unprofessional manner and needs to be further discussed in detail once again, this may be considered as my dissent vote or Note. I further request you to reintroduce the subject in the next Board Meeting without fail.”
In view of state wildlife board members total support for the formation of Greater Hessarghatta Conservation Reserve as also by people and city activists, it remains to be seen whether the state government will once again listen to people’s voice as it has done in the case of Turahalli Minor Forests.
The List of “Green Cover” disruption in Bengaluru include:
- Turahalli Minor Forests has now seen a temporary stoppage in setting up of a park here after vocal people’s protests
- Greater Hessarghatta Grasslands Conservation Reserve – Diverting it for a non-starter film city and other urban projects
- Bannerghatta National Park ESZ – failing to retain the area/extent of the original (2018) ESZ (buffer zone)
- Yelahanka-Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Reserve – Handing it over to BBMP and allowing KPCL to run a 350 MW power plant in its midst
- Bangalore University Biodiversity Park – the state government has decided to take up projects for setting up central & state education & yoga centres in the 650 acres Bio-Park.