KN Madappa, president of the Coorg Wildlife Society, in a recent press conference at Madikeri has strongly opposed the proposal of a company based in Davangere which has requested permission to construct a road within the Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary to provide access to land they purchased near the Kerala border in Mundrotu.
He said that currently, Mundrotu can only be accessed via Kerala, which requires travelling for over 80 kilometres. The company has proposed constructing a road through the sanctuary, which would reduce the distance to just 25 kilometres. He further said that the construction of this road would harm the region’s invaluable biodiversity and increase the likelihood of human-wildlife conflicts, he said. The Talacauvery region is prone to landslides, and constructing a road here would increase the risk of environmental damage.
He also stressed that Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to an elephant corridor and rare species of flora and fauna.
Madappa also questioned the company’s motives, stating. “Despite knowing that the road access from Talacauvery was not possible, they purchased the land. Now, they are seeking permission for a road through the forest. How is this justified?” He warned that if the Forest Department approved the proposal, they would pursue legal action.
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