Forest minister seeks report on earth machinery work in Kudremukh national park

Chikkamagaluru: Days after the forest staff used heavy earth machinery near Naravi forest within the Kudremukh National Park, forest minister Eshwara Khandre took serious note of the issue and sought a report from the PCCF.Conservationists took objection to the work, which the foresters claimed was not illegal.
In his note, the Kudremukh National Park deputy conservator of forests Shivaram Babu claimed the work was merely routine ‘patrol path maintenance' spanning 3 kilometres between Halakki and Poonjaje, funded by departmental grants.However, on Feb 18, the minister asked the PCCF to provide a detailed report, particularly concerning the lack of clearance on Parivesh portal and the visible destruction of vegetation. He set a seven-day deadline for the report, specifically demanding documented proof of whether the project was included in the approved Annual action plan and details regarding the tender process, including the date, total cost, and specific agency or contractor tasked with the work.Most critically, the minister mandated a comparative analysis using old and current GPS-tagged photographs to verify the exact width of the path before and after the intervention, to determine if a simple patrol track was illegally converted into a larger road.When contacted, DCF Shivaram said it was a patrolling path. There were no violations, he told TOI.