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Panel in Bandipur to study impact of proposed resort

Special Correspondent

TAKING STOCK: P.V. Jaikrishnan assessing the situation at Bandipur on Friday. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

BANDIPUR: The Central Empowered Committee, constituted by the Supreme Court, visited Bandipur on Friday to apprise itself of facts pertaining to the impact on wildlife habitat consequent to a private resort at Kaniyanapura abutting the Project Tiger reserve, about 80 km from Mysore.

P.V. Jaikrishnan arrived here at noon and visited the spot of the proposed resort and interacted with the project promoters and the groups opposing it.

The visit is a fallout of an application filed before the committee by Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), New Delhi, and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, Bangalore, who have opposed the resort on the grounds that it would spell doom to elephant population in view of the perceived disturbance arising out of the project.

The proposed project floated by Wilderness Resorts Private Limited is located at Kaniyanapura village, and is nearly 240 metres away from the elephant proof trench cut along the periphery of the national park. The project site spread over 35 acres is a revenue land and is outside the national park limits but wildlife conservation groups and a section of field biologists have expressed fears that the resort would spell doom to the elephant population as the elephant corridor, known as Kaniyanapura corridor, is closeby and recognised as among the two elephant corridors in the country that is vital for species conservation.

Kaniyanapura corridor lies along the Moyar River and the Moyar Gorge and forms a natural boundary between Bandipur in Karnataka and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu.

Ms. Suparna Baksi Ganguly and others of the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre presented their arguments before Mr. Jaikrishnan and said the corridor is considered to be vital for elephants as it allows for the free movement of the wild herds between the western portion of Bandipur and its eastern extremities and provides connectivity to forests across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

Tiger Ramesh, CEO of Wilderness Resorts Private Limited refuted arguments that the project would imperil elephant habitat and said the site of the project was nearly 300 metres away from the elephant proof trench and away from the corridor. While appreciating concerns aired by wildlife conservationists, Mr. Ramesh said they believed in responsible ecotourism.

Mr. Jaikrishnan, who received submissions from both the sides, was accompanied by senior officials of the Forest Department.

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