The Brahmagiri Sanctuary is one of four Protected Areas in Karnataka's forested Kodagu district. The habitat ranges from lowland rainforests 40 m. above sea level in the Makut range to high altitude shola-grasslands 1,607 m. above sea level in the Srimangala Range. Bordering Kerala, part of it is contiguous with the Aralam Sanctuary. A corridor connects it to two other sanctuaries in the west and to Wyanad and Nagarahole in the north. Elephants from Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai and Wyanad migrate to this region from time to time. The area is famous for the beautiful Iruppu falls, a major tourism revenue generator.
The sanctuary has been well protected by the forest department, but these good efforts could come to naught if the hydroelectric project proposed over the Lakshman Theertha river between Iruppu falls and the Naremale hill is cleared. This dam will destoy a vital wildlife habitat as well as the Iruppu falls, jeopardising tourism-dependent livelihoods.
The project's backers insist that 'only a few hectares' of forest will be lost due to submergence, but this ignores the ancillary effects on the surroundings caused by workers' colonies, roads, transmission lines, canals, etc., all of which will take a heavy toll on these lush forests. There are glaring errors in the project's Environment Impact Assessment report, such as including 'bats' among the list of birds and mentioning rhesus macaques and foxes, neither of which are found in the sanctuary!
Though the Wildlife Wing of the forest department has opposed the project, pressure is being brought to bear from powerful vested interests. As has happened so many times before in other parts of the country, such pressure can in time cause even the best of individuals to look the other way. This makes it imperative that the public supports the forest department's stand against the project at this stage itself.
You can make your voice heard by writing a letter in support of the Brahmagiri Sanctuary.
