Wildlife Activist Urges Rejection of Mining Project

A wildlife conservationist, Giridhar Kulkarni, has appealed to Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre to block a proposed mining project near the Bukkapatna Chinkara Wildlife Sanctuary in Tumakuru. The project demands the diversion of nearly 50 hectares of forest land and the felling of over 17,000 trees, raising alarms about its potential ecological impacts.

Concerns Over Proximity to Sanctuary

The mining site lies within 7.7 km of the sanctuary and falls in its eco-sensitive zone. While the Central government’s Parivesh portal claims the site is not part of a protected area, experts argue that its proximity poses serious risks to the sanctuary’s ecosystem and biodiversity.

Impact on Wildlife and Communities

Kulkarni emphasized the area’s rich biodiversity, home to leopards, sloth bears, wolves, pangolins, and the four-horned antelope—a Schedule I species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The felling of 17,206 trees could fragment habitats, escalate human-wildlife conflicts, and threaten local livelihoods dependent on forest resources like fodder and non-timber produce.

Environmental Risks

Open-cast mining, which may involve explosives, could harm pristine grasslands, disrupt watersheds vital for agriculture, and open pathways for invasive weeds. The project would also necessitate new roads, leading to further habitat degradation.

Approval Controversy

Despite a recommendation from the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Tumakuru, the project still requires wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife due to its location within a deemed eco-sensitive zone.

Kulkarni urged the government to prioritize the sanctuary’s ecological integrity over short-term economic gains.

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