If We Don't Act Now We Will Lose Bengaluru's Bannerghatta National Park Forever, Say Environmentalists

Environmentalist and concerned citizens in Bengaluru have sounded an alarm after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had published a new notification, which will reduce the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) by 100 sq km.

If the proposal gets approved the ESZ will be reduced to just 169 sq km from the current 269 sq km and reduce the extent of the ESZ from a maximum of 4.5 km to a maximum of 1 km.

Indiatimes

Activists say any move to reduce the ESZ of Bannerghatta will have a dire consequence on the already fragile ecosystem.

The biggest contention that the environmentalists and activists have raised is that reducing the buffer of BNP will open it up to mining, which they say will increase in pollution and disturbance to animals and people living in the park.

BCCL

Currently, there are three mines operating in the vicinity of Bannerghatta, which they allege are causing severe stress on the ecosystem.

"Bannerghatta is already a hub for illegal mining. The authorities have not been able to keep the quarries under check. So imagine if the ESZ is reduced and there is more mining in the area?," Vijay Nishanth a Bengaluru-based environmentalist told Indiatimes.

He also pointed out that order from Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, to cancel the licences issued for mining and crushing activities in the ESZ of Bannerghatta is yet to be implemented and the mining activities are still going on.

BCCL

The draft notification issued by the ministry has been open for public feedback till the 31st of this month.

Two separate online campaigns launched by United Bengaluru and Jhatkaa are trying to rally support to save Bannerghatta.

"I am afraid that this could be our last chance to save Bannerghatta. If the notification in the present form gets cleared by the ministry, it will be the utter destruction of the national park as we knew it. The saddest part is that a lot of people, even in Bengaluru are not aware of its consequences," Nishanth explained.

Indiatimes

Bannerghatta which has an area of 65,127.5 acres is vital for the sustenance of India's Silicon Valley, which is fast turning into uninhabitable and is predicted to be the first Indian city to run out of the water.

The national park which is around 22 kilometres from Bengaluru acts as a green buffer to the city's pollution and absorbs heat.

BCCL

United Bengaluru also pointed out that the protected area also serves as a catchment area for the cities water bodies like Anthargange, Suvarnamukhi, Rayathmala, Muthyalamaduvu, Hebbalalahalla, Bantanahalla, Aanemaduvinhalla and Shankatanahalli.