Bengaluru, July 1: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has directed officials to restart safari and eco-tourism activities in Bandipur and Nagarhole National Parks. He emphasized that all necessary safety measures must be strictly enforced during these activities.
According to an official statement, the Chief Minister also instructed officials to identify and effectively resolve minor technical issues related to the Mekedatu drinking water project. He noted that Tamil Nadu is raising “minor technical objections” in the Supreme Court, causing delays in the project.
These directives were given during a meeting of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board’s permanent committee, chaired by the Chief Minister at the Vidhana Soudha committee room.
During the meeting, officials reported that the populations of tigers and leopards in the safari and eco-tourism areas of Bandipur and Nagarhole are higher compared to regions with more frequent human-wildlife conflicts. Keeping this in mind, the Chief Minister instructed that safari activities should only commence once stringent precautionary and safety measures are in place to ensure the safety of tourists.
Officials also highlighted that the construction of the BMIC corridor has disrupted traditional migration routes for elephants, tigers, and leopards. As a result, these wild animals are moving towards the Channapatna and Ramanagara areas, leading to an increase in human-wildlife conflicts.
Additionally, it was reported that when the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway was approved, conditions were set for creating underpasses, overpasses, and special wildlife corridors to facilitate safe animal movement. However, these conditions were not fully adhered to during road construction.
Members of the permanent committee expressed concern over the ineffective implementation of previous directives regarding the removal of dry and hazardous trees and branches in Bengaluru. They noted that the lack of timely action has led to accidents during heavy rains and strong winds due to falling trees and branches.
In response to these concerns, the Chief Minister instructed relevant officials to prioritize public safety. He called for the immediate identification and removal of hazardous trees and branches and urged the implementation of necessary precautionary measures to prevent future incidents.
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