An aerial view of Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Sagar taluk of Shivamogga district.
| Photo Credit:
The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board has recommended forwarding the proposal to divert forest land from the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for approval.
The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board, chaired by Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, which met on Wednesday, decided to recommend the proposal for diversion of 0.976 hectares of forest land.
A proposal to release forest areas of the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary for approval by the Standing Committee of the NBWL was submitted to the State government through the Parivesh portal last September.
Approved
The committee also approved various road construction and widening proposals linked to the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone, and the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary with the condition that project plans ensure that there is no harm to wildlife.
The Minister directed that while granting approval to any project in forest and wildlife sanctuary areas, proposals should mandatorily include measures to reduce risks and ensure no harm to wildlife.
On the proposal to establish a leopard conservation reserve in Chittapur, Mr. Khandre directed officials to conduct a field inspection and submit a detailed report.
Mr. Khandre also directed officials to fix a radio collar on the elephant captured near Kerekatte in Chikkamagaluru district and release it back into the forest. The elephant had reportedly caused the death of two persons in Kerekatte range of Kudremukh Wildlife Division in Sringeri taluk on October 31.
He instructed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to invite former Indian cricket team captain Anil Kumble, who is the ambassador of the Karnataka Forest Department, and for wildlife conservation to attend future meetings.
CID probe
Mr. Khandre ordered a CID investigation following reports that a group of individuals filmed and photographed three new-born tiger cubs using vehicle headlights in the Bedaguli forest area of the Punajanur range, within the Biligiri Ranganatha Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district.
In a directive to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, the Minister noted that some of the individuals involved were allegedly linked to an organisation against whom a forest-crime case was filed back in 2015.
Published – November 05, 2025 07:37 pm IST
