10,000 acres of grassland taken over by ISRO and DRDO
About 10,000 acres of rich grassland, also known as Amrut Mahal Kaval in Challakere has been taken by various agencies including ISRO and DRDO, taking away the necessary grazing ground from these shepherds.
Bengaluru/New Delhi: For many years the soldiers of Indian Army posted at the world’s highest battle ground – Siachen – were supplied with the woollen blankets made in Challakere town of Chitradurga district. But the supply may be hit shortly as many shepherds are giving up their cattle as they have lost their grazing grounds.
About 10,000 acres of rich grassland, also known as Amrut Mahal Kaval in Challakere has been taken by various agencies including ISRO and DRDO, taking away the necessary grazing ground from these shepherds.
On Wednesday, the distressed farmers along with the members from NGOs demanded that the agencies must uphold the verdict given by the National Green Bench and allow the grazing for their cattle.
Besides shepherds, the projects may also push the last remaining Great Indian Bustards from this area. There are only 500 bustards remaining in India and about 30 have been recorded in Karnataka. The locals who have formed a society to fight against losing their grazing land for the project have demanded that a public hearing in this regard should be held and the projects must take environmental clearance from the central
ministry.
“For the last one year farmers were not permitted to take their livestock for grazing. The areas are barricaded defying the orders of NGT. We are forced to buy fodder from Andhra Pradesh and many farmers are selling their livestock due to this. At least 50% of production of Challakere blankets has come down. The establishments which are coming up in Challakere are expected to be involved in weapon testing which could have an adverse effect on the population of 70 villages which are located along the project sites,” said Karianna D from Challakere.
Leo Saldanha from the Environment Support Group said that the NGT had given green signal to the military establishments on the condition that Right to Water and access to the Kaval should be permitted. The NGT has also stressed on saving the unique Grassland eco system in Challakere which has large mammals like black bucks.
The environmental experts have pointed out that there has been misconception among the governments across the country that the Grasslands are actually a barren lands or unproductive lands. “The Grasslands house a unique eco-system and such ecological areas must be preserved,” an expert said.
CIC slams forest ministry
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has pulled up Environment Ministry for withholding information related to construction work in the ecologically- sensitive Amrut Mahal Kaval grasslands in Karnataka citing national security. The major part of the area in Chitradurga district of Karnataka, which forms the habitat of the Great Indian Bustard, a bird nearing extinction, has been given to ISRO and Indian Institute of Science for building their facilities. The area known as Amrit Mahal Kavals in Challakere taluk of Chitradurga district constitutes a critical component of the habitat of the last few remaining prominent faunal species of grasslands ecosystems in India. Several groups in the region have raised objections saying the diversion of these lands will spell doom for the Bustard as well as the entire ecosystem of the region.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle with gency inputs )
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