D.K Shivakumar instructs officials to resume safari and eco-tourism activities in Bandipur and Nagarhole with full safety precautions
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday instructed Forest Department officials to resume safari and eco-tourism activities in Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves, while strictly adhering
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday instructed Forest Department officials to resume safari and eco-tourism activities in Bandipur and Nagarhole tiger reserves, while strictly adhering to all necessary safety precautions. Presiding over the first meeting of the State Wildlife Board under his chairmanship, Mr. Shivakumar said all safety measures should be put in place to ensure that tourist safety is not compromised. Officials at the meeting informed him that the density of tigers and leopards in the eco-tourism and safari zones of Bandipur and Nagarhole is high.
They also said that the development of the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) has obstructed the traditional movement routes of elephants, tigers and leopards. As a result, the wild animals were moving out of forest areas towards Channapatna and Bengaluru South, and this was one of the major reasons for the increase in human-wildlife conflict in the region. Officials also told the Chief Minister that when approvals were granted for the construction of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, a condition had been imposed that the necessary underpasses, overpasses and wildlife corridors would be built to facilitate the safe movement of wildlife.
However, they said these conditions were not properly implemented during the road’s construction. Members of the standing committee of the board said that despite clear instructions for the removal of dead and dried trees and branches within the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits, incidents of trees falling during heavy rain and strong winds continued to occur. They said this was due to a lack of effective implementation. Shivakumar directed officials to accord priority to public safety and urgently take measures to identify and remove such hazardous trees and branches.
On the Mekedatu project, he instructed officials to effectively address the technical issues related to the project. He said the Tamil Nadu government was attempting to challenge the project in the Supreme Court by citing minor technical issues. He directed officials to examine whether any such issues existed and to resolve them effectively.
The BriefWire