Mincheri, 13 km from Ballari, was used as a hill station by the British during the searing summer months. Realising the difference a green space can do to a mining hub like Ballari, the forest department is developing the Mincheri Hill Range as a tree park, writes Shivakumar G. Malagi.
When the mining machines start digging hard into the earth sending the dust swirling and when the temperature reaches an unbearable 40 degrees Celsius, there is little residents of Ballari can do but disappear into their homes and wait for the mercury to drop.
A cool respite could be on the cards for them soon with the Mincheri Hill Range, around 13 km from Ballari, set to be converted into a ‘lung space’ for the city.
Realising the difference a green space can do to a mining hub, the authorities are now developing Mincheri Hill Range, one of the lesser known trekkers' routes in Ballari district, into a tree park. The forest department led by Takat Singh Ranawat, deputy conservator of forests, Ballari division has taken up the task of improving the hills which have been neglected for decades and are converting a part of the land into a tree park which could serve as an ideal space for outing for those intending to escape the soaring heat.
Apart from resurrecting an ancient bungalow constructed during the British era, the planting of trees and development of basic infrastructure is currently underway.
The British used Mincheri as a hill station during the searing summer months. T.L. Strange, who was the Collector of Bellary (the present-day Ballari) under the Madras Presidency (1845-1851), constructed a bungalow on Mincheri hill and lived there. With no roads to provide access to the hill station, the British used horses instead. Other Collectors who succeeded Strange including Peter Bruce, spent a lot of time there.
According to the British Gazetteer, the collectors, who also discharged the duties of district judge then, used to come down to Bellary from the bungalow on top of the hill, when their Shirastedar signalled (by hoisting a flag on top of the court house) that cases were awaiting trial!
The hill range which will be developed as a tree park (Photo: DC)
There are three buildings — the Collector's bungalow with vast rooms and good ventilation which also has a fireplace in the hall; the servant quarters, and a horse stable constructed with brick and mortar.
All three structures are in a dilapidated condition. What a visitor can see now is graffiti over the walls, roof debris and ditches in almost all the rooms, suspected to be the handiwork of treasure hunters. Ranawat said that the renovation work was being undertaken with utmost care to give a facelift to the place even while retaining and protecting the originality of the bungalow and servant quarters.
The bungalow will be developed as a department guest house and the servant quarters will be converted into a cafeteria for visitors. An arch has been constructed at the entrance, roads have been laid, and trenches and pits have been dug in the entire hill range to plant trees.
“We hope that in the next couple of years, the entire hill range which is now barren, will be brimming with greenery”, he added. S.K. Arun, honorary wildlife warden says that Mincheri Hill Range, after development, would be a major attraction for the public.
“Leopards, black buck, wild boar and many other animals roam these hills and with check dams and other water sources being developed, it will be a boon to the animals and birds too,” he explained.
So if you are headed for Ballari for some reason and dread to think of the searing heat and the sweat pouring down your neck, think instead of Mincheri, of an ancient, cool bungalow on the hills awaiting you and reminding you of century old memories of the British savouring their drink in its quaint precincts.
The British used Mincheri as a hill station during the searing summer months. T.L. Strange, who was the Collector of Bellary (the present-day Ballari) under the Madras Presidency (1845-1851), constructed a bungalow on Mincheri hill and lived there. The collectors, who discharged the duties of district judge then, used to come down to Bellary from the bungalow atop the hill, when their Shirastedar signalled (by hoisting a flag on top of the court house) that cases were awaiting trial!
