Bannerghatta National Park violations: Centre asks state govt to take action

Bengaluru: To avert further destruction of one of the largest lung spaces in the state, Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), Union Environment Minister Prakash Javaderker was apprised about the construction of layouts and industries in the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ). He was requested to take stern action against the violators.

Acknowledging the letter, the ministry in a reply to the Bannerghatta Nature Conservation Trust said that they have forwarded the request to the state government for appropriate action.

On June 6, Deccan Chronicle reported details of the letter in which shocking revelations were made about the construction of resorts and drinking water industry within the ESZ of the BNP.

The letter also highlighted the ramifications of trimming the ESZ by 100 sqkm. After the objections were raised it was decided that the original ESZ of 268.96 sq km should continue until a decision is taken by the environment ministry. But the letter stated that the agencies, starting from the forest department, have already started adhering to the trimmed ESZ.

The trust had also sent a letter to the state agencies and asked them to cancel the environmental clearances if they were granted.Mr Bhanu Prakash, a coordinator of the trust, said that there has been no response by the state authorities on the issue. “There is no one controlling the violations in the ESZ. It is being exploited without any clearances,” he said.

It is learnt from the activists that the real estate development has occupied over 50 hectares of land in the ESZ, and if the spate of construction is not halted the situation would boil into a human-animal conflict and that would be in contravention of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) directives.