Villa too close for tiger hub comfort.

Mail Today , Sunday, February 27, 2011
Correspondent : Aravind Gowda
POACHING and encroachment into the tiger's domain have already contributed to the big cat becoming a highly endangered species and its relegation to man- made sanctuaries.

However, a different kind of human activity is threatening the national animal's survival in a park -- illegal construction.

The tigers of Karnataka's Bandipur Tiger Reserve -- one of the premier tiger habitats in the country -- are under threat from a new gated community resort/ villa that is coming up on the park's borders in violation of wildlife conservation rules and regulations.

Shockingly, the state government is not even aware of the project, which is springing up in the eco- sensitive or buffer zone of the reserve where commercial activities are regulated.

Promoted by the Pune- based NSB Group, the project -- NSB Wildlife Hunt Resort -- is spread over 19.13 acres with 50 villas and 200 cottages.

The company has already extensively advertised the project on its website.

Praveen Mahajan, of Aranya, a local wildlife conservation group, said the proliferation of private and commercial resorts around the Bandipur Tiger Reserve has increased the negative impacts of human- induced pressure on wildlife habitats.

" Many of these lands, though not under the tiger reserve category, still contain natural forest cover and wildlife regularly frequents these areas.

These resorts put up electricfences, which hinder the movement of wildlife, especially elephants, and can completely cut the corridor between Bandipur and Mudhumalai in the near future," Mahajan said.

" The corridor is already very narrow and as small as 700 metres at a few locations," he added. " This project is in gross violation of section 3 of the environment protection Act, 1986." Karnataka's forest minister C. H. Vijayashankara said he was not aware of the project.

" The project was never tabled before my ministry in the past six months. We have not granted permission to any developer for such a villa project near the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. We will definitely examine the project. The issue will be discussed with the officers concerned," he added.

The minister pointed out that he would ascertain whether other government departments had granted permission for the project. " Various departments of the government have to grant their approvals for a project of such magnitude. I will consult my counterparts and take necessary measures," he said.

Meanwhile, the company has already put up a board near the project site. " The site was fenced 15 days ago. The company has bought the land from the local residents of Mangala village. We are not sure about the exact date of the land transfer . It needs to be examined. We have already brought the matter to the notice of the forest department," Mahajan added.

The guidelines for eco- sensitive zones clearly mandate that any change of land use from green uses ( such as orchards and horticulture) to non- green uses needs clearance from the ministry of environment and forests ( MOEF).

They also impose " a ban on new hotels, boarding houses" in these zones.

" Ironically, the MOEF issued new guidelines on February 9 that said the establishment of hotels and resorts within the eco- sensitive zone needs to be regulated and should follow an approved master plan, which takes care of habitats and places no restriction on the movement of wild animals," Mahajan said.

New resort constructions need permissions from the state board for wildlife, national board for wildlife, and the MOEF, but the state government is unsure whether these approvals were taken.

NSB Group representatives were not available for clarifications on the project. The company does not maintain offices in either Bangalore or Mysore.

 
SOURCE : http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Villa+too+close+for+tiger+hub+comfort.-a0250124717
 


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