Meera Bhardwaj:
Work on laying of water pipelines in the Timber Depot area (which is part of the notified Hornbill Conservation Reserve) in Dandeli, Uttar Kannada district, Karnataka shocked naturalists and environmentalists, however, presently, all works has been stopped by the Karnataka Forest Department.
According to activists in Dandeli, these works that were taken up inside a PA can cause immense damage to the habitat of hornbills in the 53-square km-Hornbill Conservation Reserve which starts from the Dandeli Timber Depot and ends at Ganeshgudi – stretching all along the Kali River.
Further, local environmentalists and activists stress that these works which started and was stopped – is part of the Multi-Drinking Water Supply Scheme for six villages by diverting 3.434 hectares of area in a notified forest.
The user agency – AEE, Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Sub-division, Haliyal took up laying of water pipelines and other ancillary purposes four years back and now once again this March, they re-started albeit without any clearances. With Kali Brigade – an NGO based in Dandeli lodging a complaint, the project was stalled but activists fear the project may restart once again inside the PA.
Speaking to Green Minute News, Dr Prashanth K C, DCF, Haliyal Forest Division said all the works have been stopped as the area falls under a protected forest area.
The Haliyal DCF added, “All clearances for this project are still pending. I am not aware of the diversion of 3.434 hectares of forest land for providing drinking water to six villages. The current project involves diversion of 0.509 hectares of forest land and the work has been stopped as they are yet to receive any clearances. The Dandeli Timber Depot area and other areas are part of the Hornbill Conservation Reserve. However, some parts with high population falling in the middle of the Dandeli town have been denotified.”
HORNBILL CONSERVATION RESERVE
As per RTI information provided by the Karnataka Forest Department, the entire town of Dandeli in Uttar Kannada district falls inside the protected area of the Hornbill Conservation Reserve. This conservation reserve is home to four types of hornbills – the Great Hornbill, Malabar Pied Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill, and Indian Grey Hornbill with two hornbill species that are endemic to the Western Ghats.
Added to this, the MoEFCC states that the primary objective of this Hornbill Conservation Reserve is to preserve the habitat of hornbills which is a flagship species of Western Ghats.
The Hornbill Conservation Reserve, Dandeli is crucial for preserving the habitat of the Malabar Pied and Great Hornbills, acting as a “flagship species site” for Western Ghats biodiversity. It also serves as a vital tiger corridor connecting Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra, protecting crucial nesting sites from deforestation. As a dedicated conservation reserve for hornbills under Section 36A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, it offers legal protection to the unique biodiversity of the Western Ghats.
KALI BRIGADE EFFORTS
In July (dated 2nd and 27th) 2021, Milind Kodkany of Kali Brigade had lodged two complaints with the Haliyal Forest Division, Karnataka Forest Department on the issue of laying of water pipelines that fell inside the Hornbill Conservation Reserve as a large number of trees were felled. Further, the user agency had dug up earth and used forest land for non-forest purposes inside reserve forests of Dandeli and Alur beats sans any forest clearances under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
The excavations in 2021 had caused destruction of the Hornbill habitat as they had also used heavy machinery and hazardous substances inside the CR at Timber Depot, Dandeli. Then, the KFD had filed a FIR dated 31.8.2021 against Manjunath Maruthi Badri, a resident of Belagavi Road, Haliyal under Rule 25 (2) of Karnataka Forest Rules, 1969 for excavation of mud and re-filling it without permission. But this FIR is not enough, the Kali Brigade stated in their complaint.
AN ILLEGAL PROJECT INSIDE A PA
Speaking to Green Minute News, Naturalist Milind Kodkany of Kali Brigade said, “We are shocked how the earlier stalled project was re-started in March, this year and so, we complained to the KFD. Presently, the project has been stopped temporarily. But looking at the illegalities and the violations, they have committed under FCA and WPA, the department should take action immediately.”
Further, the MoEFCC notification clearly lays the procedure to deal with violations under Section 2 under FCA, 1980 against the violator and erring officers under whose supervision, the work was taken up while an application seeking forest clearance was still pending. He adds, “In fact, prior recommendation and permission is needed from the Standing Committee of the NBWL to take up any non-forest works inside a notified conservation reserve which the user agency failed to do.”
HIGH COURT DIRECTIONS
In the absence of statutory clearances required under the law, the user agency had clearly violated the provisions under the WPA and FCA. So, in the aftermath of filing of a PIL on this issue, the Karnataka High Court on 1.04.2022 directed the Karnataka Forest Department should look into the viability of the project and its impact on the river and the environment.
The High Court order said, “Regarding the construction of the jack well at the banks of Kali River, the KFD should look into the adverse impact of the project on the river and environment. Regarding the illegalities of the project, they should look into it and ensure the project is executed only after due permissions under the law is taken.”
The Karnataka High Court directed the petitioners to make representation to the KFD which will be considered by them and appropriate decision shall be taken by them in accordance with law expeditiously.
On 15.7.2022, the Kali Brigade, Dandeli submitted a representation to the PCCF (Wildlife) raising several queries on the issue:
- Construction of Jack wells
- Laying of pipelines
- Dumping mud inside river course
- Installing transformers
- Use of explosives
- Destroying the river flow
- Impacting aquatic life
- Destroying flora and fauna
- Impacting biodiversity along Kali River
They further requested the KFD for preparation of an EIA report and conduct of public hearing on this drinking water scheme for six villages in Haliyal taluk by diversion of 3.434 hectares of forest land.
Before any permission is given to any such project in the Kali River, the KFD should also conduct a cumulative impact assessment report of the present burden on Kali River.