Hassan: Wildlife activists here suspect that the state government may have succumbed to pressure against extending the boundaries of the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Kodagu district to include the reserves forests of Hassan, which would result in protection for wildlife over a larger area and bring an end to the illegal sand mining and timber felling, rampant in the region.
Although Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had promised to reorganise the wildlife sanctuary at the State Wildlife Board meeting in July, 2014, no steps have been taken since to make this a reality, giving rise to suspicion that vested interests could be at work.
“If the reserve forests of Hassan are brought under the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary it could put a stop to timber smuggling and illegal sand mining in Sakleshpur. Clearly those involved don’t want to see this happen,” says a wildlife activist.
“Once declared a sanctuary, there would be intensive management of the forests, no tree felling will be allowed and no approval given for projects of any kind,” a forest officer confirms.
Explaining that the reserves forests of Hassan are not big enough to be declared a separate wildlife sanctuary, he says if they are merged with the neighbouring Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary in Somwarpet of Kodagu district, it will also help connect wildlife corridors in the region, aiding their conservation.
Despite the delay, wildlife activists here are still hoping the proposal will go through, but a member of the State Wildlife Board in Bengaluru, is not as optimistic. He believes the proposal may have been put in cold storage for good.
