Karwar: Man’s meddling with nature has thrown the ecological balance out of track. The blatant exploitation of natural resources and uncalled for development is now taking toll on the mangrove forests in the region, which play a vital role in conservation of the environment.
The mangroves, which are called ‘Kandla Vana’ in Kannada have immense power to bring down the intensity and impact of natural calamities such as cyclone, floods, sea erosion, tsunami and others. But, such patches of life-saving mangroves are dying a silent death. Thanks to blatant and fast paced development.
As per experts the stretch of mangroves along the Konkan coast, spreading from Karwar to Mangaluru has shrunk drastically and if the trend continues it will have a devastating impact on the the coast.
There are hundreds of mangrove varieties and on the Konkan coast atleast 15 of them are found. But, losing these plants is a dangerous phenomenon and now it calls for government intervention so that people can realise the need to grow the mangrove and effective steps can be taken towards this direction.
Whether by growing these plants in nursery or by creating awareness about them, the government needs to take pro-active measures, before it is late.
Lack of awareness is evident because farmers are seen digging canals for irrigation after clearing the mangroves at many places. In the district,
vast expanse of mangrove have been chopped off to make way for National Highway widening works, along Bhatkal-Majali stretch. Though, there are laws that clearly state that meddling with mangroves is not allowed, nobody finds themselves punished when mangroves are destroyed.
All in all, the government, environment and forest departments have to act stern before the lost mangroves curse the mankind!
