Brahmagiri bridge will up smuggling: Greens

Bengaluru: The State Board for Wildlife in Karnataka met on September 26 and approved developmental projects near the sanctuary areas of the Western Ghats. On the request of Kerala government, the State Board for Wildlife has granted in-principle approval for the construction of a bridge on the Barapole river, which demarcates the Karnataka and Kerala, sources said.

Though a small forest area of less than 2 hectares is to be sacrificed from Karnataka’s side, experts believe that the move would make Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary vulnerable to smuggling and hunting.  

“Those who have visited the area know that the natural forests in Karnataka are more or less intact in that belt, whereas all natural forests of Kerala are destroyed and the land-use pattern has been changed. There are more of coconut, coffee and cardamom gardens as well as habitations on the Kerala side. Brahamagiri sanctuary will be more accessible for these people with this bridge,” former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest B.K. Singh said.

He said that even without the bridge, smuggling of timber and hunting of wild animals were rampant. On several occasions, miscreants were not apprehended and trials were not successful in courts.

“Sometime in 2011, tree growth in a 3-acre area in Kutiyala beat, Brahmagiri sanctuary was cleared by miscreants from Kerala and the land was used for ganja cultivation. It all happened in the monsoon season, when forest patrolling staff do not visit the interior areas because of inaccessibility and also because of leaches. The offence came to the notice of RFO and DCF after two months. Despite sincere attempts, culprits were not apprehended. Forest officials did remove ganja plants and attempted to regenerate the area, but were not successful,” Mr Singh explained.