Meera Bhardwaj:
Long Rafting from 7-12 kms is going on unabated in Kali River violating both forest and wildlife laws. Karnataka Forest Department (KFD) has assured action within 10 odd days and said this long rafting activities will be stopped as it violates existing norms under Forest (Conservation) Act and Wildlife Protection Act.
Two private entities – State Adventure Zone (12 kms) and Whistling Woods (6-7 kms) are carrying out White Water Rafting illegally, thereby, violating all norms.
As per existing rules, it is only Jungle Lodges & Resorts Ltd (JLR) who have exclusive rights for White Water Rafting in Kali River and no private entities are allowed. According to JLR, rafting is usually conducted on “regulated stretches” of the Kali River keeping in mind the fragile habitat of hornbills, especially around the Ganeshgudi and Jungle Lodges areas. Rafting in Dandeli is typically conducted between October and June, based on dam flow and forest department permissions.
HORNBILL CONSERVATION RESERVE AFFECTED
Disturbing the Hornbill Conservation Reserve to no end, private rafting is in full swing where these two private companies are happily violating all rules and regulations. Further activists in Dandeli say they are disturbing the whole stretch of Kali River stretch as even the JLR is helpless and unable to stop their rafting activity.
Appealing to the Forest, Ecology & Environment Minister, Eshwar Khandre, activists and conservationists said such high-level, chaotic and noisy adventure activities so close to the Hornbill Conservation Reserve should be stopped.
TWO SCHEDULE-1 SPECIES
Long Rafting is detrimental to the existence of four types of hornbills – the Malabar Pied Hornbills and Great Pied Hornbills (both are schedule-1 species under WPA), Malabar Grey Hornbills and Indian Grey Hornbills that are sighted in Dandeli. Further, Malabar Pied Hornbills are endemic to Western Ghats and is listed as Near Threatened under IUCN Red List.
Added to this, the Hornbill Conservation Reserve at Dandeli region in Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka is considered as one of the most vital and significant habitats for four types of hornbills found in the Dandeli region, they added. The L-shaped Hornbill Conservation Reserve starts from the Supa Dam and extends to Kali River from Mavaling to timber depot to Dandeli town to Dandakaranya.
ILLEGAL LONG RAFTING
The State Adventure Zone which is based near Supa bridge (just next to JLR) has not only introduced long rafting of 12 kms but also introduced Class-9 rapids on the Kali River. Each session is of three hours duration while an individual is charged Rs 1350 and youngsters are taken for rafting that involves levels up to nine rapids which passes through the Hornbill Conservation Reserve and a notified forest.
Jungle Lodges and Resort Ltd (JLR), a state government company, is permitted by the state government to operate white water rafting and is, therefore, encouraged to promote eco-tourism in the state. In this background, the PCCF of Karnataka in December 2010 permitted only JLR to have exclusive rights over river rafting in Kali River, Dandeli as well as other such river spots as per the Wilderness Tourism Policy of Karnataka.
RAFTING REVENUE MEANT FOR KALI TIGER FOUNDATION
Even the Karnataka Forest Department who were earlier operating river rafting in Kali River had to withdraw from this activity. The revenue generated from river rafting on Kali River was basically for getting funds for Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Foundation. In a meeting held on White Water Rafting and other issues of JLR Ltd on 14.12.2010 under the chairmanship of Kaushik Mukherjee, Principal Secretary to Govt of Karnataka, Forest, Ecology & Environment – exclusive rights for river rafting were given only to JLR Ltd.
Speaking to Green Minute, former PCCF B K Singh who was purview to this decision said, “All agencies were removed in 2010 and only JLR was permitted. The state government is to be blamed for such an unbridled activity on Kali River. If Karnataka Forest Department is not able to control such an activity even within the forest area as the river passes through it, regulation is indeed poor. Why are they allowing private resorts and properties to operate rafting in the forest bound Kali River? Strict action should be taken against the violators.”
FOREST DEPTT PROMISES ACTION AGAINST VIOLATORS
APCCF (Wildlife) Biswajit Mishra told Green Minute that action will be taken immediately and all such violations will be stopped within 10 days.
The APCCF added, “Both the Karwar DC and state tourism department has been sensitized about this issue by DCF Haliyal. He is aware of the violations committed by the two private entities and a 35-page-note has been sent while DC has formed a committee to elicit the opinion of the stakeholders. Since long rafting is going on in an area that has a notified forest and a conservation reserve and violates both FCA & WPA, this rafting activity will be stopped.”
Adding to this, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kanara Circle T Hiralal told Green Minute that in fact, nobody should be allowed to do white water rafting in such a biodiversity-rich forest area that is home to so many unique and endemic species of the Western Ghats.
The CCF added, “We are making efforts to stop this activity now and it was the DC who had given the NOC for long rafting to these private entities. The two private companies have taken advantage and started long rafting as people are attracted by such activities, however, we will talk to these people to stop such activities.”
DEMAND FOR STRICT ACTION AGAINST VIOLATORS
It is shocking that the State Adventure Zone is carrying out Long Rafting of 12 kms that criss-cross Hornbill CR , said a wildlife activist in Dandeli. He adds, “They have been disturbing the hornbill’s activities like feeding, nesting and breeding. Now how can a private entity take up long rafting and that to such higher levels – up to 9 rapids, is there nobody to stop them?”
Sources from JLR in Bengaluru said they are helpless as the DC, Karwar had permitted these companies to carry out White Water Rafting in Kali River even though only JLR had the exclusive rights for rafting in the Kali River.
As per norms, private entities can carry out boating and rafting only in the river length that is opposite and equivalent to their revenue space, however, these two private properties – State Adventure Zone and Whistling Woodz Resort are openly violating rules due to political influence. Wildlife activists add, “We hope the KFD is successful in stopping such illegal activities. This will be good for conservation of two species of hornbills that are endemic to Western Ghats. For conservation, only responsible and sustainable eco-tourism activities should be allowed.”
(PHOTO CREDIT: ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY MEERA BHARDWAJ AT GANESHGUDI AND DANDELI, UTTAR KANNADA DISTRICT)