Bengaluru: Bowing to pressure from local people, the state government on Wednesday decided to hold another round of public hearing vis-a-vis the Kapathgudda wildlife reserve in Raichur district though it was declared a wildlife reserve just a year ago.
During the ninth meeting of state wildlife advisory board here, the government decided to allow laying of OFC cables in all wildlife reserves, including Nagarahole-Bandipur Tiger Reserve between H D Kote and Bavali.
Official sources said some of the local organisations had raised objections to the state government’s decision to give Kapathgudda the tag of a wildlife reserve.
They complained that a public hearing was not held by the government while declaring it a wildlife reserve. Though it planned to withdraw the notification, the board decided to hold one round of public hearing, before taking a final decision.
Meanwhile, the board also resolved to construct four elephant cross bridges across river Tunga. It also discussed the proposed supply of power to hamlets within Nagarahole National Park. While giving consent for declaring Ankasamudra near Hagari ommanahalli as a bird sanctuary, the board has sought a resolution from Ummathur gram panchayat in Chamarajnagar district to announce a black buck sanctuary at Ummathur.
Farmers protest in Mysuru for water, 37 held
With the state stopping water for irrigation in the Cauvery catchment area from Tuesday, farmers intensified their protest in Mysuru. 37 agitating farmers were arrested and released later. Farmers who protested near the CADA (Command Area Development Authority) office, tried to lay siege to the office of district incharge minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa. Security was beefed near the CADA premises. While the agitating farmers took out a protest march from the CADA office premises and tried to enter KR Circle. Police took them to custody. The 37 farmers were taken into custody as a preventive measure.
