Environmentalists have expressed fears that the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project might affect the elephant corridor, besides damaging the habitat of other wild animals, as dams will be constructed in eco-sensitive areas of the Western Ghats.
The State government should stop the work immediately and conduct a study to assess the impact of the project on environment and wildlife, environmentalists have demanded.
Hurudi Vikram, a resident of Agani village in Sakleshpur taluk, has said he had been noticing movement of elephants for many years in Kadumane and nearby areas. The place had been considered an elephant corridor by Indian Institute of Science experts. “Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. will construct dams in such sensitive area as part of the project. These dams will disturb the path used regularly by wild animals. As a result, they will be enter human habitats,” he said.
The State government has maintained that there is no need to conduct an environment impact study citing that Yettinahole is a drinking water project. However, environmentalists argue that the government was avoiding the study by naming Yettinahole as a drinking water project though it had intentions to supply water drawn from the project for irrigation purposes. H.A. Kishor Kumar, president of the Malenadu Janapara Horata Samiti, said eight dams would be constructed to collect water as part of the project. “Western Ghats is the habitat of many rare species of wild animals. We have already disturbed their habitat in the name of railway line, power line, highway and many other projects. This project will again harm the nature,” he said.
Kenchanakumari forest, Kadumane, Kabbinale Reserve Forest and neighbouring areas form the elephant corridor. The dams proposed as part of the project would come up in these places. “Only a detailed scientific study can assess the impact of the project on the Western Ghats. The government should give attention to this,” Mr. Kishor Kumar said.
