With the Badanaguppe-Kellamballi industrial area near Chamarajanagar expanding rapidly, environmentalists are sounding alarms over the threat to the nearby Blackbuck Conservation Reserve near Ummathur and Bagli villages. Spread across 1,504 acres, the reserve is home to a thriving population of blackbucks, a species under protection by the state government.
While the area has already been notified as a conservation reserve, the second phase of industrial expansion—covering an additional 850 acres—has triggered fresh concern among conservationists. They argue that without stricter enforcement and proactive safeguards, the blackbucks’ habitat may face irreversible damage.
Environmental activist Manukumar from Melajipura village emphasized the need for immediate intervention by the forest department and local authorities. “Blackbucks often roam in the nearby Kellamballi hills, which are close to expanding industrial zones. We need a buffer zone to protect them from pollution, human interference, and habitat destruction,” he said.
Concerns include effluent discharge, land degradation, and water contamination, all of which could lead to the displacement or extinction of the blackbuck population in the region.
BRT Tiger Reserve Director Sripathy acknowledged the concerns, stating that while the industrial zone is currently distant from forest areas, any violation of environmental norms by industries will lead to strict action. He assured that the need for a buffer zone around the Ummathur-Bagli conservation reserve will be raised if wildlife is indeed at risk.
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