The Hindu : Karnataka News : No new restrictions on proposed World Heritage Sites in Western Ghats: official

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Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

No new restrictions on proposed World Heritage Sites in Western Ghats: official

Sharath S. Srivatsa and Jeevan Chinnappa

— A file photo

Serene:The Kudremukh National Park in the Western Ghats during the monsoon.

BANGALORE/MADIKERI: Even as the two officials from the International Union for Conservation of Nature arrived in Madikeri for inspection of the nominated sites in the Western Ghats for inclusion on the list of World Heritage Sites (WHS), local people openly opposed the move. Officials were quick to clarify that no fresh restrictions would be imposed on sites that are accepted as natural World Heritage Sites.

“The declaration of sites in the Western Ghats as a WHS will not mean imposition of any new regulations or any new conditions. These are essentially sites that are already under some sort of regulation,” Dean of the Dehra Dun-based Wildlife Institute of India V.B. Mathur told The Hindu. Dr. Mathur is the coordinator of the project for the nomination of sites in the Western Ghats as World Heritage Sites.

India has nominated Western Ghats as its entry for the WHS in the natural heritage category, while Santiniketan in West Bengal has been nominated in the cultural heritage category for the year 2011.

Kaziranga and Manas national parks in Assam, Sunderbans in West Bengal and Bharatpur bird sanctuary in Rajasthan and Nandadevi and Valley of Flowers in Uttaranchal are the existing natural WHS in India.

Dr. Mathur said: “All the sites nominated in the Western Ghats are already declared as a national park or a wildlife sanctuary, which has regulations. The new tag of world heritage site will only enhance the status of these sites in global tourism.”

Apprehensions

One of the reasons for the outburst of people in Madikeri on Tuesday was their apprehension about the displacement and loss of rights. The fears were further strengthened after the Forest Department filed cases against MLAs K.G. Bopaiah and Appachu Ranjan in connection with the construction of Kadanakkal forest road connecting Madikeri and Kukke Subramanya, which reduces the distance to about 40 km, from about 90 km now.

According to B.T. Dinesh of Nalknad Farmers' Club, stakeholders were not consulted about the visit of the UNESCO representatives.

Sites proposed

Of the 39 sites identified in the Western Ghats for declaration as World Heritage Sites, 10 are in Karnataka, 19 in Kerala, four in Maharashtra and six in Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka, Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talacauvery Wildlife Santucary, Padinalnad Reserve Forests, Kerti Reserve Forests, Kudremukh National Park, Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, Someshwara Reserve Forest, Agumbe Reserve Forest and Balahalli Reserve Forests have been identified.

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