Hassan: Patlabetta , located on the border of Sakleshpur taluk and Subrahmanya in Dakshina Kannada district, has become a favorite destination for tourists. However, due to a lack of coordination between departments, visitors are being left stranded.
Once known only to locals and environmentalists passionate about trekking, Patlabetta gained popularity among tourists through social media. Spanning an area of 15 acres, the hill belongs to the Tourism Department, while the surrounding area falls under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department.
Initially, there were no restrictions on visiting this eco-tourism spot; however, as word spread about its natural beauty, thousands from across Karnataka and even other states started flocking here. The sudden influx caused traffic problems as regular vehicles struggled on the steep dirt roads leading up to Patlabetta.
Taking advantage of this situation, locals began offering rental services using jeeps and pickup trucks to transport people up the hill. This venture proved profitable until recently when an incident occurred involving physical assault against a tourist who protested traveling in a rented vehicle. A case has been registered at Yasalur police station in connection with this incident.
To address these issues related to tourism development at Patlabetta, meetings will be held with ministers and officials from both departments soon. Cement Manju, MLA, stated that joint action would be taken after discussions among officials.
Due to safety concerns during the monsoon season, landslides risk closing off access to Patlabetta temporarily. Now, after this recent attack on tourists, Forest Department officials have constructed trenches along the road using JCB machines to prohibit any vehicle access further up towards Patlabetta.
The lack of coordination between both departments has resulted in inadequate infrastructure at Patlabetta, despite it being handed over to the tourism department back in 2015. It is crucial that officials from both sectors come together and devise suitable plans for tourism development while ensuring necessary facilities are provided for visitors’ convenience.
However, objections have arisen regarding instructions issued by Forest Minister Ishwara Khandre, who wrote a letter instructing the Deputy Conservator of Forests in Hassan to inspect whether any trees were felled during road construction without permission. Locals express frustration over what they perceive as insufficient cooperation between departments, since building a proper road is essential for facilitating tourism activities on this hill.
