A recent report by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has raised a major alarm over the state of Bannerghatta National Park near Bengaluru. The findings highlight how expanding infrastructure, including resorts and roads, is severely cutting into the park's crucial elephant corridors.
What the CEC Report Reveals
The committee's investigation points to unchecked development activities that are fragmenting the natural landscape. These intrusions disrupt the traditional pathways used by elephants and other wildlife for movement and migration. The report underscores a direct conflict between commercial development and essential ecological connectivity.
Violation of Environmental Guidelines
This encroachment stands in direct contradiction to the official Guidelines for Declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ). These guidelines were issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in February 2011.
As per these rules, state governments are mandated to include specific areas within ESZs. The required zones include:
- Wildlife sensitive corridors
- Landscape connectivity areas
- Other ecologically important patches
The current situation in Bannerghatta suggests a failure to fully implement these protective measures, leaving corridors vulnerable.
Implications for Wildlife and Conservation
The consequences of this habitat fragmentation are severe for the local elephant population. Blocked corridors lead to:
- Increased human-elephant conflict as animals stray into human settlements.
- Genetic isolation of animal groups, threatening long-term population health.
- Disruption of foraging patterns and access to water sources.
The report serves as a critical reminder of the pressing need to balance development with stringent environmental protection. It calls for immediate attention from the Karnataka state government and forest authorities to reassess permits, enforce ESZ boundaries, and secure these vital lifelines for Bannerghatta's iconic wildlife before irreversible damage is done.
