MEERA BHARDWAJ @ GANESHGUDI
Illegal mid-river rafting continues unabated in the Kali River at Ganeshgudi. A five-kilometre-stretch in the Kali River that comes under the Hornbill Conservation Reserve – is the river habitat where illegal rafting is being conducted by unscrupulous resort owners.
In fact, rafting of Level-3 is being held in Kali River which is affecting the conservation of endemic species of Hornbills as also other unique flora and fauna that is found only in the Western Ghats. Hornbill roosting is more near Kali River, Ganeshgudi, Supa Dam and Dandeli.
Two species of hornbills – the Malabar Pied hornbill and the Malabar Gray hornbill nests and roosts in the islands of the Kali River that has now become the play ground for tourists and youngsters who are interested in adventure sports.
ENCROACHMENT OF FOREST LAND
This river-stretch passes through Ilava village (or Ambeli) which is the entry and exit points wherein the forest land abutting the river is shockingly encroached by Whistling Woodz Resort. This resort is situated at Badgund, Ganeshgudi, Joida taluk, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, India.
On either side of the Kali River, there are perfect nesting and roosting habitat for Malabar Pied Hornbill and Malabar Gray Hornbill as it is home to a large number of fruit trees. The Hornbill Conservation Reserve at Ganeshgudi is a unique and pristine forest and is home not only to these endemic birds but also other species.
The Kali River having beautiful forest islands in its midst provides the best habitat for the hornbills’ nesting and breeding. And any disturbance in its habitat will wreak serious consequences for hornbills as these forests are its last refuge.
One can see rafting done by youngsters in the midst of the Kali River just in front of the Hornbill Conservation Reserve. Locals say this is a everyday sight where all rafters make a big noise and spend hours together rafting disturbing the hornbills.
APPEALS FALL ON DEAF EARS
Despite many appeals and protests by activists, the state government has failed to take any action against these powerful resort owners who are involved in this illegal activity of mid-river rafting. This wildlife range falls in the central Western Ghats region which is one of the World’s Eight “Hottest Biodiversity Hotspots” as well as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
See in the above picture – how rafting is going on just next to the hornbill conservation reserve. At Ganeshgudi, Karnataka government has given permission for rafting to Jungle Lodges & Resorts (JLR) with no revenue accruing from this activity.
RAFTING EVEN IN DARKNESS
However, carrying out mid-river rafting is illegal and neither permitted to JLR or any other resort. However, Whistling Woodz Resort and others have been conducting illegal mid-river rafting since 2016-17, say local activists from Joida taluk. This illegal activity is taking place openly and blatantly throwing all caution to winds.
Activists add, “There are some resorts who conduct rafting in darkness, overload the boats with the excess carrying capacity resulting in accidents now and then. There are no trained personnel or certified guides to conduct rafting but still tourists and youngsters from Bengaluru and other cities flock to enjoy the illegal water sports activity. In the last five years, one person has died while several accidents have occurred with no action taken till date against violators.”
NO ACTION TILL DATE
Another biodiversity expert says, “31 guntas of Kali River as well as KPCL land have been encroached but the state government has not taken any action against the illegal encroachers despite the High Court orders to remove them.”
There have been instances where forests have been destroyed by some resort owners. It is shocking to see the river being encroached, the barricading of the river, obstruction of natural river flow and setting up of concrete structures like restaurants, cables, boating, rafting equipment, etc in the river itself.
APPEAL TO FOREST MINISTER
Appealing to State Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, they say, “There is not only an urgent need to set up an inquiry committee by the Ministry of Forests, Environment and Climate Change to investigate the illegal doings like mid-river rafting, and rafting accidents, mishaps but also stop illegal tree felling, forest destruction at Ganeshgudi.”
THE HORNBILL CONSERVATION RESERVE IN ALL ITS SERENITY
Despite, the Karnataka High Court order in February 2025 for clearance of structures in forest land (abutting the Kali River), and encroachment by Whistling Woodz Resort, the Karnataka Forest Department has failed to take any action till date, activists add.
(ALL PHOTOS BY MEERA BHARDWAJ AT GANESHGUDI, JOIDA TALUK, UTTAR KANNADA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA)