Bengaluru: It provides a much needed lung space not too far from the spread of the city, but Bannerghatta National Park (BNP)’s future has come under threat with the government’s move to “trim” its 268.96 sq km Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) by 100 sq kms. Protesting strongly, the Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust has shot off a letter to Union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Prakash Javaderker, warning against the consequences of such a move.
Although the plan has still not received the minister’s approval, the trust has pointed out in its letter that many agencies, including the forest department, have already started treating the 100 kms proposed to be trimmed, as fair game for development.
In another letter to the state agencies and authorities, the trust has demanded that they stop the construction of illegal layouts, resorts, drinking water bottling unit and industries within the ESZ of the BNP and requested the government departments to scrutinise all records and cancel the environment clearance given for such projects. It has also demanded action against the officials, who falsified the data to clear the layouts and other construction in the ESZ.
To prove its point, the trust has enclosed pictures of the buildings that have come up in the park’s eco-sensitive zone. They include one of the Samiulla layout that has occupied over 50 hectares of land in the ESZ. Warning that if the spate of construction that was being carried out in contravention of the directives of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), continued, it could lead to huge man- animal conflict in the region, the trust has demanded an independent investigation into the issue. “We hope that justice is done,” said the convenor of Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust.
Eco zone under threat
- Though the plan to trim Eco-Sensitive Zone around Bannerghatta National Park, from 268 square kilometers to 100 kilometres, has not received the minister’s approval, many agencies, including the forest department, have already started treating the area beyond 100 square km as fair game for development
- Environmentalists have called for a stop on construction of illegal layouts, resorts, drinking water bottling unit and industries within the ESZ of the BNP and requested the government departments to scrutinise all records and cancel the environment clearance given for such projects. It has also demanded action against the officials, who falsified data.
