The Hindu : Karnataka / Shimoga News : `Smugglers destroying forests near Jog Falls'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Shimoga

`Smugglers destroying forests near Jog Falls'

By Our Special Correspondent

A tree cut by smugglers in the forests near Jog Falls in Shimoga district.

SHIMOGA, SEPT. 29. The Vriksha Laksha Andolana has alleged that smugglers have destroyed forests in the vicinity of the Jog Falls. According to a study conducted by the Andolana, an environmental organisation, Seetakatte forests in the upstream of the Jog Falls, which was once considered as a thick forest area, and several acres of forest area in the Sagar and Sirsi subdivisions of the Department of Forests are now exposed to smugglers with the department remaining ineffective in protecting its forests.

According to the volunteers of the Andolana, who conducted the study, the forest area which is exposed to senseless cutting of trees, is situated between Gamateghatta and Joginmath, though similar denudation of forests is reported from Kanukota, Iduvani, Padanabail of Sagar taluk in Shimoga district and Musuvalli, Kalagara, Joginamath of Siddapur taluk in Uttara Kannada district.

Most of the trees destroyed are said to belong to the Nandi variety which is extensively used in making door and window frames, though trees of other varieties such as Surahonne, Bharani, Kandala and Honnemara are also said to have been cut.

According to the activists, timber is smuggled out to Sagar during night at least once in three days via Musavalli, Talvata and Manemane.

The environmentalists say the local people have come out openly against the smuggling activities by furnishing details to them (environmentalists) about the destruction of forests. They say a large number of tree trunks lay in the forests and claim that smugglers have cut them.

They point out that the Indian Institute of Science of Bangalore, which recently conducted a study on the condition of the command area of the Sharavathy, had said that the consequences of the smuggling activities in the Sharavathy valley would be serious unless the destruction of forests was checked.

The Andolana has said that the Jog Management Authority, which is finding ways and means to ensure continuous flow of water into the falls, should explore the possibility of utilising the naturally available water in the upstream of the river. It has regretted that steps have not been taken to protect the natural source of water at Kanukota in the upstream of the falls.

The Andolana has demanded that the department take measures to check the smuggling activities in and around the falls by declaring it as an environmentally sensitive area.

Denied

However, the department officials have denied the charges made by the Andolana on the smuggling activities in the Sagar Forest Division.

Speaking to The Hindu over phone from Sagar, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (Sagar Division), A. Radha Devi, said on Tuesday that there had been no illegal cutting of trees in the division as had been alleged by the Andolana.

She said a team of forest officials sent to inspect the area following the charges made by the Andolana had not found any such thing.

Describing the allegations as misleading, Ms. Radha Devi said, "Of course the intention of the Andolana is good. But it should have come out with more concrete instances instead of making vague allegations.''

Ms. Radha Devi said it was difficult to smuggle forest wealth in Sagar as the people there were alert. "Even if one timber log is smuggled out, it comes to our notice,'' she asserted.

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