Gundu Rao's proposal to establish jungle lodges in Karnataka's wildlife sanctuaries flayed

A herd of elephants (top) and a transit camp for the proposed lodge: Threatening wildlifeChief Minister Gundu Rao's penchant for doing something unique invariably lands him in the choicest of controversies. Now the burly Rao has stirred a barrage of criticism from ecologists who object to his highly touted proposal to establish jungle lodges in Karnataka's wildlife sanctuaries in collaboration with an international tourism company.In December last when Rao laid the foundation stone for the Khedda Jungle Lodge in a dense forest in the Nagarhole National Park, the pride of Karnataka, the chief minister crowed that it was the first time in the country that a state was actively promoting wildlife tourism in a scientific way.To build and run the lodge the state floated Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited (JL & R) as a joint venture with Tiger Tops Mountain Travel International, which operates deluxe fishing camps and jungle lodges in other countries.When he was the state tourism minister in 1978, Rao was invited by Tiger Tops to stay in its lodge in the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal. An impressed Rao waited till he became chief minister before sanctioning Rs 1.2 crore to build a similar resort in Karnataka.But instead of praise, ecologists have come down heavily on Rao. "It's ecocide," declares Ullas Karanth, a young wildlife enthusiast and son of Jnanpith award winner Shivaram Karanth. Ullas, who heads the Environmental Protection Group in Mysore, said: "The project site is located in one of the most well-preserved areas of Nagarhole and when the lodge comes up there will be a beehive of activity, with noisy tourists and roar of vehicular traffic. It would upset the delicate balance between nature and wildlife and destroy Nagarhole sanctuary."Scientific Way: "Poppycock," retorts T.P. Issar, the bespectacled chairman of JL & R who is also commissioner for tourism and chairman, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. Said he: "I don't know what all this fuss is about. We are trying to introduce wildlife tourism in a highly specialised, scientific way. Our accent is on quiet, thoughtful and unobtrusive tourism. It would be a harmless way to watch wildlife. And the revenue earned could be used to promote wildlife."The Khedda Jungle Lodge would be completed next year and will have 20 double rooms with adjoining private bathrooms. Among its features are a separate dining area, where top-quality meals will be enjoyed around a central fireplace. A fully slocked bar would be available.The star attractions would be game-viewing from elephant back, four-wheel-driven vehicles or blinds overlooking feeding and watering areas, canoe trips on the nearby Kabini river, fishing and excursions to places of cultural and historical interest.Established in 1955 the Nagarhole sanctuary has a total area of 571.55 sq km which includes seven reserve forests. Bounded by the Wynad range in the west and the Kabini river on the south, the park has a rich variety of flora and fauna.The lodge is to be located on the northern banks of the Kabini river in the Kakanakote forests, the site of the world-famous Khedda operations which were stopped in 1971. When the state built the huge Kabini reservoir, thousands of acres of forest area were submerged, affecting the ecology of the area.Objections: The JL & R's emblem is an elephant's head and ironically enough it is a disturbance to the animal itself and Karanth's group is worried about it. Elephants used to migrate seasonally from Nagarhole to the adjacent Bandipur forests in search of fodder.The migratory path was narrowed down to a few square kilometres when the Kabini dam was built. The group points out that the lodge would be located bang in the middle of the elephants' forest corridor, breaking the fragile and vital link between the two sanctuaries. These animals would then be forced to raid the cultivated lands around the sanctuary.Another objection to the lodge site is that it will also fall in the core area of the sanctuary which contains the best representation of its natural flora and fauna and is free from all disturbances, including tourism and forest operations. Normally, before a sanctuary is set-up the Forest Department chalks out a master plan to demarcate the core area, the forestry section and the portion set aside for tourism. But Nagarhole has never had a master plan and the proposed core area is now being used as a tourist spot. Accuses Karanth: "This is ridiculous and unscientific. First the Government chalks out the tourism and then decides which should be the core area."The Government's claim that no new roads would be formed and the existing tracks would only be used is misleading. The tracks have long been in disuse after Khedda operations were stopped, leaving the animals in peace. But the company now proposes to drive the tourists to the lodge using these tracks, thus disturbing the sanctity of the sanctuary.Said Dr Mewa Singh, a university professor and a fiery member of the group: "By locating the lodge in the heart of wildlife activity, the company hopes to show tourists tigers at their windows while they sip beer and knock billiard balls." The group's solution to these problems is to locate the lodge outside the sanctuary in a place where the company is putting up tented camps and take them on tours to only limited areas in the sanctuary.Another flaw in the project is that Gundu Rao never bothered to consult the State Wildlife Advisory Board, the Indian Wildlife Board or the Department of Environment. The Environmental Protection Group has appealed to several national and international organisations concerned with wildlife to step in and stop the project.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 13, 2013 12:08 IST--- ENDS ---

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Gundu Rao's proposal to establish jungle lodges in Karnataka's wildlife sanctuaries flayed

Chief Minister Gundu Rao's penchant for doing something unique invariably lands him in the choicest of controversies.

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